What Are the Complications of Vasculitis?
Vasculitis can lead to some very serious complications. Weak blood vessels may cause an aneurysm. Blood vessels may also burst, leading to bleeding.
Narrowed or inflamed blood vessels may block blood flow. If the affected area does not have other vessels supplying blood to the area, the tissues there will die. This can happen in any part of the body.
Diagnosing Vasculitis
Your doctor will ask about your medical history and conduct a medical exam. Tests look for inflammation. They also rule out the possibility that other conditions are causing the symptoms
Tests for diagnosing this condition may include:
- Blood tests looking for certain blood cells and antibodies that indicate the disorder.
- Urine tests to check for kidney damage.
- Imaging tests like X-rays, MRI scans, angiograms, or doppler ultrasounds to spot inflammations in the blood vessels.
- Echocardiogram tests to determine how well your heart is functioning.
- Biopsies, which involve taking a sample of tissue from organs and blood vessels to look for signs of damage.
The test that your doctor will recommend will depend on the symptoms that you are showing.
Vasculitis Treatment
Doctors will suggest treatment depending on the affected organ. The disorder sometimes goes away on its own, although doctors may give medications to relieve symptoms.
Some patients will require treatment, especially if vasculitis affects crucial organs like the kidneys, heart, or lungs.
Your doctor may give you steroids to counter the inflammation. They will monitor you for side effects during the course of treatment. Other medications can slow down the immune system, or may block the protein that causes inflammation.
Key Takeaway
Vasculitis can be a serious condition. It affects your blood vessels, which plays a very important role in keeping the body healthy. Seek medical help immediately if you feel any of the symptoms.
Learn about Other Blood Disorders here.
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