Understanding Vasculitis and How to Treat It

The term vasculitis refers to a whole group of diseases that can cause damage to your circulatory system and, potentially, your organs. When you have vasculitis, your blood vessels are threatened by inflammation. Vasculitis can impact your veins, arteries, and capillaries.

All of the types of vasculitis are rare, but your risk goes up if you have an autoimmune condition like lupus. Some types of vasculitis can be life-threatening, and come with risks of serious complications.

That’s why you need expert diagnosis and treatment to address your vasculitis. At Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center, board-certified rheumatologist Iraj Sabahi, MD, and his experienced care team can help you understand your vasculitis, and work with you to develop a customized treatment plan to protect your long-term health and wellness.

Understanding vasculitis

We’re still learning about the causes of vasculitis. Some researchers think vasculitis may be an autoimmune disorder, causing your immune system to mistakenly attack your blood vessels as they would an invading pathogen.

If you’ve been diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, you could experience vasculitis as a side effect. You could also have vasculitis triggered by a drug reaction. Chronic infections like hepatitis B and hepatitis C also seem to cause vasculitis.

It can be a challenge to recognize when you have vasculitis, as the symptoms can vary from patient to patient, and you might not show any symptoms at all. However, it’s a good idea to get checked for vasculitis if you have:

• Numbness or weakness in your hands or feet
• Skin ulcers, swelling, or a rash of red spots on your skin
• Fever or shortness of breath

Effective treatment options for your vasculitis

Although you might not experience debilitating symptoms from vasculitis, it’s important to get started with treatment as soon as possible. Your blood vessels circulate nutrients around your entire body. Inflammation in your blood vessels can have knock-on effects on your kidneys, heart, lungs, and skin. 

If we can catch your condition early, we can treat your vasculitis before you suffer lasting vascular and organ damage. Dr. Sabahi and his team can diagnose your vasculitis and get you started with the right treatment options to reduce your inflammation and preserve your vascular health. Dr. Sabahi examines you and takes your medical history. In addition to the examination of your symptoms, diagnostic tests including blood tests and X-rays can help to confirm your vasculitis.

Once you have your diagnosis and know what type of vasculitis you’re dealing with, you can get started working with Dr. Sabahi on your individual treatment plan. Depending on your diagnosis, you could potentially benefit from treatments including:

• Medications like immune-suppressing drugs
• Targeted injections with steroids
• Infusions with biologic agents

For vasculitis diagnosis and expert treatment, get in touch with Dr. Sabahi at Pleasanton Arthritis and Osteoporosis Medical Center today. You can book your initial evaluation appointment online, or phone our offices in Pleasanton and Turlock, California now.