UPMC Vasculitis Center
Our holistic approach at the UPMC Vasculitis Center provides patients with the proper diagnosis and treatment options that are tailored to each patient's specific needs.
About Vasculitis
Vasculitis is a disease characterized by swelling of blood vessels that causes them to thicken, narrow, weaken, or scar.
Vasculitis can:
- Occur suddenly, or evolve over weeks or months
- Affect a single area of the body, or involve multiple locations
- Range from mild to life-threatening
Primary vasculitis occurs without any known cause and can result in a variety of other diseases, such as:
Secondary vasculitis occurs from medication, or as a result of another disease, such as:
- An autoimmune disorder
- Viral, bacterial, or fungal infection
- Cancer, such as lymphoma or leukemia
It's important to be proactive in treating and managing vasculitis, since early treatment may lead to a more positive outcome.
Diagnosing Vasculitis
The UPMC Vasculitis Center offers a holistic approach to diagnosing vasculitis. Our physicians check for various symptoms related to vasculitis and perform several tests to ensure a correct diagnosis.
Signs and Symptoms of Vasculitis
The signs and symptoms of vasculitis depend on which blood vessels are involved.
With any type of vasculitis, people generally don't feel well, and may experience:
- Fever
- Chills
- Fatigue
- Loss of appetite
- Weight loss
Specific organ systems of the body affected by vasculitis may cause the following signs or symptoms:
| Brain |
- Stroke
- Headache
- Vision changes
- Memory loss
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| Eye |
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| Ear, nose, throat, and sinuses |
- Inflammation and infection
- Hearing loss
- Ear pain
- Nose or mouth sores
- Nose bleeding
- Change in voice
- Hoarseness
- Nasal congestion
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| Lungs |
- Shortness of breath
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Coughing up blood
- Abnormal chest x-ray or CT scan
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| Heart |
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| Stomach and colon |
- Bleeding from stomach or bowels
- Abdominal pain or cramping
- perforation (hole) in intestines
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| Kidneys |
- Blood in urine
- Protein in urine
- Kidney failure
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| Nerves |
- Numbness
- Tingling
- Shooting pain
- Weakness in arms or legs
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| Blood |
- Low red blood cell count (anemia)
- Elevated white blood cell count
- Elevated platelet count
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Testing for vasculitis
It's important to remember that each of the signs and symptoms above are not exclusive to vasculitis and can be seen in many other conditions.
In addition to a physical exam, doctors may order the following tests to help make the diagnosis of vasculitis:
- Blood tests
- Urinalysis
- Imaging studies — such as x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans, ultrasound, and angiography
- A biopsy may be necessary in some cases
Treatments for Vasculitis
The doctors at the UPMC Vasculitis Center use specific medications to treat vasculitis.
Individualized treatment depends on:
- The particular type of vasculitis
- Which organs or tissues are affected
- Any underlying health conditions
| Steroids |
- Steroids are used to suppress the abnormal immune response that has led to blood vessel damage. In keeping with our holistic approach to treatment, we often give people additional medicines — such as calcium and vitamin D supplements — to avoid the increased possibility of osteoporosis that can result from taking steroids.
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| Antibiotics |
- Patients may require antibiotic therapy if their immune system becomes suppressed during the treatment process.
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