Vasculitis describes a condition in which the walls of blood vessels are damages by inflammation. The arteries are particularly involved, with damage to their wall. This can lead to obstruction of blood flow. Many diseases are manifestations of vasculitis including polyarteritis, hypersensitivity vasculitis, allergic angiitis and cranial arteritis. Both generalized symptoms and specific symptoms occur.
Causes of Vasculitis
The disease is though to be due to an autoimmune response, in which the bodies white cells damage the vascular structures.
Signs and Symptoms of Vasculitis
Generalized symptoms associated with vasculitis include fever, weakness and malaise. Specific symptoms depend on which area of the body is involved. In Polyarteritis, the typical symptoms include weight loss, fever, fatigue, weakness, asthma symptoms, abdominal pain and diarrhea. In Allergic Angiitis, which is also known as Churg-Strauss disease, in addition to generalized symptoms, asthmatic attacks are common. Hypersensitivity vasculitis tends to produce symptoms in those areas of the body that are affected. Cranial arteritis is associated with headache and pain and tenderness over the arteries leading to the front of the scalp. In addition to generalized symptoms, painful chewing and varying degrees of visual loss can occur.
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