How do you get vasculitis?

Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels. It happens when the body’s immune system attacks the blood vessel by mistake. It can happen because of an infection, a medicine, or another disease. The cause is often unknown.

What is the life expectancy of someone with vasculitis?

Since 2010, the mean survival changed from 99.4 to 126.6 months, more than two years. Patients with higher disease activity at diagnosis, determined by the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score, also were found to have a poorer prognosis.

How does vasculitis make you feel?

Different types of vasculitis have characteristic (localized) patterns of blood vessel involvement. However, vasculitis is a systemic illness. Thus, patients with vasculitis feel sick. They often have fevers, weight loss, fatigue, a rapid pulse, and diffuse aches and pains that are difficult to pinpoint.

Despite this, the prognosis is generally very good and the median survival is about 8-15 years according to the nci. A recently published study from stanford has shown that since 1997 the median survival has increased to over 18 years. Life expectancy depends on the extent of disease.

How serious is vasculitis?

Vasculitis can be serious. When your blood vessel becomes weak, it might stretch and bulge (called an aneurysm ). It might also burst open, causing bleeding. This can be life-threatening but is very rare. When your blood vessel becomes inflamed and narrowed, it might partially or totally block the blood flow to that area of your body.

What type of Doctor would you see for vasculitis?

What specialists you see depends on the type and severity of your condition. Specialists who treat vasculitis include: Joint and connective tissue doctors (rheumatologists) Brain and nervous system doctors (neurologists) Eye doctors (ophthalmologists) Heart doctors (cardiologists) Infectious diseases doctors.

How do you diagnose vasculitis?

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