bone, joint, and muscle disorders
Overview of Vasculitis
Introduction
Vasculitic disorders are caused by inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis). Vasculitis can be triggered by certain infections or drugs or can occur for unknown reasons. People may have general symptoms, such as fever or fatigue, followed by other symptoms depending on which organs are affected. To confirm the diagnosis, a biopsy is done on a sample of tissue from an affected organ to detect inflammation in the blood vessels. Corticosteroids and other drugs that suppress the immune system are often used to reduce inflammation and relieve symptoms. Vasculitis can affect people of all ages, but some types are more common among certain age groups. Vasculitis may affect arteries (large, medium, or small), capillaries, veins, or a combination. It may affect a whole blood vessel or only part of it. It may affect blood vessels that supply one part of the body, such as the head, nerves, or skin; or blood vessels that supply many different organs (called systemic vasculitis). Any organ system can be affected. Sometimes vasculitis affects the skin but not the internal organs (cutaneous vasculitis). 