Vasculitis is a relatively uncommon medical condition characterized by inflamed blood vessels. Studies in the US and Europe found vasculitis affects up to 40 million people, causing symptoms and complications that range from relatively mild to life-threatening.
At Houston Kidney Specialists Center, our team helps patients manage vasculitis, providing therapies focused on reducing symptoms and preventing complications. If you’re diagnosed with vasculitis, here’s what you need to know about the condition and its treatment.
Some circulation problems affect the veins or the arteries, but vasculitis can target either or both anywhere in the body.
In most vasculitis cases, inflammation causes veins to become narrower, interfering with normal blood flow. The condition can also lead to blood clot formation or aneurysms, weakened areas of a blood vessel prone to tearing or bursting.
Vasculitis can be divided into two broad categories: primary vasculitis and secondary vasculitis. With primary vasculitis, the underlying cause of vessel inflammation isn’t identified. Secondary vasculitis occurs as a symptom or effect of another condition.
Potential causes or triggers include blood vessel trauma, certain medications, infections, and autoimmune disorders where the immune system attacks the healthy lining of your vessels. Vasculitis symptoms vary depending on location and severity. They include:
Vasculitis often takes a toll on your kidneys, causing symptoms like pain or blood in your urine.
Vasculitis requires prompt and ongoing management to reduce inflammation and support optimal circulation health. Our team bases treatment on several factors, including where the problem occurs, the severity of your symptoms, and your overall health.
Many people respond well to medications, including drugs to suppress the immune system or corticosteroids to control inflammation. Sometimes, we prescribe additional medications to control specific symptoms, like localized pain.
You can expect to attend regular checkups and lab testing to monitor your symptoms and therapy, helping us make adjustments to your medication or dosing as needed.
We also recommend lifestyle modifications, like quitting smoking, following a healthy diet, and engaging in regular physical activity.
In more severe cases, we may recommend surgery to repair damaged tissue or redirect blood flow where circulation is slowed or blocked. When vasculitis affects your kidneys, you may need kidney transplant surgery.
With optimal management, vasculitis can go into remission, relieving symptoms and improving overall comfort and wellness.
To learn more about vasculitis treatment and how we can help, request an appointment online or over the phone today at one of our Houston Kidney Specialists Center locations in Houston and Cypress, Texas.
