vasculitis
Inflamed blood vessels
Vasculitis is inflammation of blood vessels.
The immune system attacks vessel walls, restricting blood flow and potentially damaging organs.
It ranges from mild skin rashes to life-threatening conditions affecting kidneys, lungs, or brain.
There are many types, classified by the size of vessels involved: The doctor suspected vasculitis when she saw the purple spots on his legs.
Protective tissue response
- necrosisLocalized cell death
- granulomaInflammatory mass walling off foreign material
- stenosisAbnormal bodily narrowing
- occlusionComplete closure or blockage
aneurysm · thrombosis · ischemia · hemorrhage · infarction · perfusion · tissue damage · organ damage
Bleeding beneath the skin
- petechiaeMinute subcutaneous hemorrhages
- skin ulcersOpen wounds in flesh
- nodulesSmall rounded protuberances
- fatigueWeariness from prolonged exertion
fever · weight loss · joint pain · muscle pain · neuropathy · numbness · tingling · headache
Body attacks itself
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- T-cellsThymus-matured immune lymphocytes
- B-cellsAntibody-secreting immune cells
- neutrophilsPathogen-engulfing white blood cells
immunoglobulins · autoantibodies · immune-mediated · hypersensitivity
Drugs reducing body defenses
- corticosteroidsInflammation-suppressing steroid medications
- prednisoneSynthetic corticosteroid medication
- methotrexateAntifolate chemotherapy agent
- biologicsDrugs derived from organisms
Tissue sample for diagnosis
- angiographyImaging of blood vessels
- urinalysisLaboratory examination of urine
- imagingProducing visual representations
- MRIMagnetic body imaging
CT scan · PET scan · rheumatologist · histopathology · differential diagnosis
inflammation
Protective tissue response
- necrosisLocalized cell death
- granulomaInflammatory mass walling off foreign material
- stenosisAbnormal bodily narrowing
occlusion · aneurysm · thrombosis · ischemia · hemorrhage · infarction · perfusion · tissue damage · organ damage · scarring
purpura
Bleeding beneath the skin
- petechiaeMinute subcutaneous hemorrhages
- skin ulcersOpen wounds in flesh
- nodulesSmall rounded protuberances
fatigue · fever · weight loss · joint pain · muscle pain · neuropathy · numbness · tingling · headache · hematuria
autoimmune
Body attacks itself
- cytokinesImmune signaling proteins
- T-cellsThymus-matured immune lymphocytes
- B-cellsAntibody-secreting immune cells
neutrophils · immunoglobulins · autoantibodies · immune-mediated · hypersensitivity
immunosuppressants
Drugs reducing body defenses
- corticosteroidsInflammation-suppressing steroid medications
- prednisoneSynthetic corticosteroid medication
- methotrexateAntifolate chemotherapy agent
biopsy
Tissue sample for diagnosis
- angiographyImaging of blood vessels
- urinalysisLaboratory examination of urine
- imagingProducing visual representations
MRI · CT scan · PET scan · rheumatologist · histopathology · differential diagnosis
giant cell arteritis
Inflammatory blood vessel disease
vasculitisthrombosis
Clot forming in vessel
atherosclerosis · embolism · stenosis · aneurysm · arteriosclerosis
vessel, vascular, vasculature, vascularity, vascularization, vascularized, intravascular, vascularize