UPMC Vasculitis Center

Vasculitis Symptoms and Diagnosis

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.

Vasculitis signs and symptoms

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

Symptoms:

• Stroke
• Headache
• Vision changes
• Memory loss

Eye

Symptoms:

• Inflammation
• Vision loss

Ear, nose, throat, and sinuses

Symptoms:

• Inflammation and infection
• Hearing loss
• Ear pain
• Nose or mouth sores
• Nose bleeding
• Change in voice
• Hoarseness
• Nasal congestion

Lungs

Symptoms:

• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood
• Abnormal chest x-ray or CT scan

Heart

Symptoms:

• Heart attack
• Angina

Stomach and colon

Symptoms:

• Bleeding from stomach or bowels
• Abdominal pain or cramping
• perforation (hole) in intestines

Kidneys

Symptoms:

• Blood in urine
• Protein in urine
• Kidney failure

Nerves

Symptoms:

• Numbness
• Tingling
• Shooting pain
• Weakness in arms or legs

Blood

Symptoms:

• Low red blood cell count (anemia)
• Elevated white blood cell count
• Elevated platelet count

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

Vasculitis Treatments

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

Medicines for treating vasculitis

• 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.

• Patients may require antibiotic therapy if their immune system becomes suppressed during the treatment process.