Living with Vasculitis
Inflammation of the blood vessels that happens when the immune system attacks them by mistake.
Understanding Vasculitis
It can affect arteries, veins, and capillaries. Inflamed vessels can narrow, close off, or stretch and bulge (an aneurysm). It can be triggered by an infection, a medicine, or another disease, but the cause is often unknown. GARD says the main goal of treatment is to stop the inflammation.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary, but GARD says they usually include:
- Fever
- Swelling
- A general sense of feeling ill
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Autoimmune Association and Vasculitis Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists (rheumatologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Autoimmune Association, Vasculitis Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Autoimmune Association and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
GARD says the immune system attacks blood vessels by mistake. It can be triggered by an infection, a medicine, or another disease, and the cause is often unknown.
Also known as: angiitis; inflammation of blood vessel; systemic vasculitis
Patient organizations
- Autoimmune AssociationVasculitis · United States
- Vasculitis FoundationVasculitis · United States
- Relapsing Polychondritis FoundationVasculitis · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Vasculitis.
Explore research for Vasculitis
Explore actively recruiting Vasculitis studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Vasculitis with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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