Vasculitis
Inflammation of blood vessels, which damages their walls and disrupts blood flow to organs. It ranges from mild, skin-only forms to serious diseases affecting the kidneys, lungs and nerves. Early diagnosis and treatment matter, as some types can cause rapid organ damage.
What it is
Vasculitis is a group of conditions in which the blood vessels themselves become inflamed. The inflammation thickens, weakens or narrows the vessel wall, reducing blood flow to the tissues it supplies and, in some cases, causing the wall to bleed or form a bulge. The consequences depend on which vessels are affected: large arteries (as in giant cell arteritis), medium arteries, or the smallest vessels of the kidneys, lungs, skin and nerves. Many cases are autoimmune, where the immune system wrongly attacks the vessels; the ANCA-associated vasculitides are an important small-vessel group. Vasculitis can be limited to the skin (causing a purple, non-blanching rash called palpable purpura) or can be a serious multi-organ illness with fever, weight loss, fatigue, joint and muscle aches, kidney inflammation (blood or protein in the urine), lung symptoms, or nerve damage. Because some forms can damage the kidneys or other organs quickly, prompt recognition matters. Diagnosis draws on the pattern of symptoms, blood tests (inflammation markers, ANCA, kidney function), urine testing, imaging, and often a biopsy. Most types are very treatable, usually with medicines that calm the immune system.
Key lab markers
- ANCA — antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies; positive in ANCA-associated vasculitis.
- CRP and ESR — inflammation markers, typically raised.
- Creatinine / eGFR and urea — to detect kidney involvement, which can progress quickly.
- Urine testing — for blood and protein, a key sign of kidney vasculitis.
- Full blood count — anaemia and a raised white cell or platelet count are common.
- A biopsy of an affected tissue — often needed to confirm the diagnosis.
Symptoms
- Fatigue, fever and unintentional weight loss
- A purple, non-blanching skin rash (palpable purpura)
- Joint and muscle aches
- Blood or protein in the urine, or reduced kidney function
- Cough, breathlessness, or coughing up blood (lung involvement)
- Numbness, tingling or weakness (nerve involvement)
- Sinus or ear symptoms, nosebleeds (in some types)
- Headache or visual changes (in large-vessel types)
Related symptoms
Related lab panels
When to discuss with a doctor
Vasculitis should be considered when unexplained inflammation is combined with organ signs — such as a purpuric rash, blood or protein in the urine, unexplained kidney impairment, lung symptoms, nerve problems, or persistent fever and weight loss. Some forms, especially those affecting the kidneys or lungs, can cause damage quickly, so prompt specialist assessment is important; new visual symptoms with headache in an older adult (possible giant cell arteritis) is an urgent situation. A positive ANCA with raised inflammation markers and kidney signs strongly supports the diagnosis, but confirmation often needs a biopsy, and treatment is guided by a specialist. Most vasculitis is very treatable when caught early. Mediora.AI can surface the combined pattern — raised CRP and ESR, a positive ANCA, and kidney abnormalities — that points toward vasculitis; the diagnosis and treatment belong with your doctor and a rheumatology or nephrology team.