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A Savvy Vasculitis...
The Vasculitides
Vasculitis in Latin and Greek
Direct Causes of Vasculitis
Vasculitis so rare, yet common...
Where it happens...
What happens...
Difficult to diagnose
Illnesses or diseases following a vasculitis
Life changes come on the heels of the vasculitides
References and remarks on this section
The Vasculitides
Boldface: indicates diseases Savvy now presents
Lightface: planned for presentation
Behçet's Disease
Buerger's Disease
Central Nervous System Vasculitis
Churg-Strauss Syndrome
Cogan's Syndrome
Cryoglobulinemia
Giant Cell Arteritis
Henoch-Schönlein Purpura
Hypersensitivity Vasculitis
Kawasaki's Disease
Leukocytoclastic vasculitis
Microscopic Polyangiitis
Polyarteritis Nodosa
Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Relapsing Polychondritis
Rheumatoid Vasculitis
Takayasu's Arteritis
Vasculitis caused by infection or "connective tissue disorder"
Wegener's Granulomatosis
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Vasculitis: it's the same in Latin or Greek...
Vasculitis is an uncommon inflammation of the blood vessels: veins, arteries and capillaries. Blood vessels of all sizes may be affected, from the largest vessel in the body (the aorta) to the smallest blood vessels in the skin. The size of blood vessel affected varies according to the type of vasculitis.
The word vasculitis is derived from the Latin "vasculum", vessel + "-itis", inflammation.
Another term for vasculitis is angiitis. The word angiitis is derived from the Greek "a[n]geion", vessel + "-itis", inflammation.
"Arteritis" means inflammation in arteries
Because there are so many types of vasculitis, the group is sometimes referred to in the plural: vasculitides (pronounced "vas que lit i deez", with the accent on the third syllable.)
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Direct Causes of Vasculitis
Vasculitis can occur alone or in conjunction with an allergic reaction or with autoimmune diseases.
These causes need to be ruled out before considering an underlying autoimmune disorder.
- allergy or hypersensitivity to medications such as sulfa or penicillin
- drugs (such as amphetamines and cocaine),,
- toxins, and other inhaled environmental irritants (diesel exhaust particulate, dust)
- infection: hepatitis B
- cancers (such as lymphomas and multiple myeloma),
- rheumatic diseases (such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus ).
- parasites, or viral infections. (Lyme disease)
However, bear this in mind:
- Hepatitis B (a virus) causes some cases of Polyarteritis nodosa
- Hepatitis C (another virus) is the cause of most cases of Cryoglobulinemia
- Bacterial infections have been suspected in Wegener's Granulomatosis
A general theory that applies to many types of vasculitis is that the disease results from the occurrence of a particular infection in someone whose genes(and other biogenetic factors) make one susceptible to developing vasculitis.
It is a difficult disease to diagnose.
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Vasculitis so rare, yet common...
Vasculitis is a common disorder in many of the autoimmune diseases. It is the result of chronic inflammation of the blood vessel walls. Chronic inflammation damages the lining of affected blood vessels, causing narrowing, the formation of blood clots (thrombosis), and/or blockage of blood flow to tissues.
Where it happens...
Arteries and veins of all sizes and in all parts of the body may be affected. Vasculitis may be localized or systemic.
It can affect many organs and different parts of the body
- lungs
- kidneys
- heart
- brain
- eyes
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What happens...
The lack of blood may cause
- tissues damage (necrosis),
- formation of blood clots (thrombosis),
- weakening (ballooning) possibly causing a rupture of the vessel wall(aneurysm).
This damage may create pain, tissue damage, and, in some cases, certain affected organs may not work properly.
The vasculitides is a group of diseases that represent many different conditions capable of causing vasculitis. Immune system abnormality is a common feature.
The range and severity of symptoms associated with vasculitis may vary greatly.
Difficult to diagnose
Diagnosing vasculitis is a clinical challenge because it is a syndrome, not a specific disease. A variety of pathologic states result in vasculitis; what ties them together is the end result of blood vessel inflammation. (NJC)
The initial presentation of vasculitis can be as varied as the syndrome. Some patients have persistent constitutional symptoms,
such as lingering cold. In some cases the lungs are markedly involved, in the form of pneumonia or asthma. Other associated
organ-system-based infections include sinusitis, otitis, and other sites of infection. A patient with hypersensitivity vasculitis may initially present with a skin rash. Physicians may find that a suspicion of vasculitis often enters into differential diagnosis of many patients.
Signs and symptoms of vasculitis include abnormal liver function, fever, neurologic complaints, hypertension, and kidney disorders. Simple laboratory tests, including a white blood cell count and sedimentation rate, are useful for ruling out the most serious vasculitides.
Illnesses or diseases following a vasculitis
There may emerge illnesses or diseases following a vasculitis or in reaction to treating drugs and chemicals. Here's a short list.
- peripheral neuropathy
- Cushing's syndrome
- osteoporosis
- acid reflux
- obesity
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Life changes come on the heels of the vasculitides
Overall life changes come on the heels of the vasculitides. Many of our members have experienced ...
- disability, loss of income, loss of one's chosen work
- fatigue, weakness limiting social and family life
- dependent on others for basic needs
- isolation
Others have, within the confines of the illness, found
- work more to their liking
- change of habitat and life styles
- embarked on a program of physical self-improvement
In short, the systemic vasculitides can affect you physically, emotionally, financially, and socially.
And all of these areas need to be confronted by patients (and their families) committed to self-managing their disease.
Next edition: autoimmune diseases and the immune system
References and remarks on this section
Note:"A Savvy Vasculitis" is an interpolation and re-edit of material found in the sources listed below. We felt that no one
source or reference told the whole story; some neglected material we felt crucial to patient well-being and self-help.
Sources:
Tabers Cyclopedic Medical Dictionary 17 & 18th editions
Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
Medicinet.com
Intellihealth, a subsidiary of Johns Hopkins
National Organization of Rare Disorders
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc.
Medscape
Immunologic Disorders: Mosby's Clinical Nursing Series
(as to secondary complications and life style
impact)
Churg-Strauss Email Archives
Savvy Archives
Savvy Patient Biographies
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Vasculitis resources:
collagen vascular disorders AND vasculitis definition,
with much attention focussed on Wegener's
Heart and Blood Vessel Diseases, peripheral blood vessel diseases
Comments? Corrections? Savvy.
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