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    4. Vasculitis

    Vasculitis 

    At Mayo Clinic Healthcare in London, our rheumatology specialists provide expert vasculitis diagnosis for people with symptoms of blood vessel inflammation, including systemic vasculitis.  

    Using advanced diagnostic testing and a collaborative specialist approach, your care team may recommend a test (or a combination of tests) to assess your symptoms, medical history, and test results. This helps understand how vasculitis may be affecting your blood vessels and develop a personalised care plan tailored to your needs.

    • Vasculitis is a group of conditions that cause inflammation in the blood vessels - inflammation meaning swelling and irritation. When blood vessels become inflamed, it can affect blood flow through the body.

    • There are many different types of vasculitis, ranging from mild to serious, and they can affect different organs such as the skin, lungs, kidneys, or nerves. 

      Some types of vasculitis may improve without treatment, while others require medicine to control inflammation. 

      Getting a vasculitis diagnosis is important because it helps your care team understand the type of vasculitis you have, how it is affecting your body and what care may be right for you.

      Vasculitis symptoms vary depending on the type of vasculitis, and the area of the body affected. Systemic vasculitis can cause symptoms in more than one part of the body. 

      Vasculitis symptoms often include: 

      • Fever
      • Headache
      • Tiredness or weakness
      • Weight loss
      • Aches and pains
      • Joint pain
      • Skin changes, such as red or purple spots, bumps, discolorations, lumps, or open sores
      • Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
      • Issues with the digestive system, such as belly pain, sometimes with blood in the stool
      • Shortness of breath
      • Blood in the urine
      • Eye redness, burning, double vision or vision loss
      • Dizziness, ringing in the ears or sudden hearing loss

      Seek urgent medical help if you are experiencing trouble breathing, chest pain, sudden vision changes or severe weakness.

    • The exact cause of vasculitis is unknown. In many cases, vasculitis occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks blood vessel cells. 

      Possible triggers include: 

      • Infections, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C
      • Some blood cancers
      • Immune system conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis
      • Reactions to certain medications

    • There isn’t one test for vasculitis. A vasculitis diagnosis will be based on a physical exam, lab tests and imaging. 

      Your assessment will start with a consultation with a rheumatology specialist. Your care team will ask about your symptoms, your medical history, and any concerns you may have. They also may carry out a physical exam to look for signs of inflammation. 

      If your symptoms suggest vasculitis, your care team may recommend a test for vasculitis, or a combination of tests, to help confirm a diagnosis. 

      Tests to help with your vasculitis diagnosis include: 

      • Blood tests
      • Urine tests
      • Imaging tests, often through an MRI or a CT scan
      • Angiography, an imaging test with dye
      • Biopsy, where a small sample of tissue is removed from the body to assess

    • Treatment depends on the type of vasculitis, the severity of your symptoms, and which organs or blood vessels have been affected. 

      Treatment will also often include medicines to reduce inflammation, calm the immune system and help protect organs. 

      Treatment options include: 

      • Corticosteroids, which reduce inflammation
      • Immunosuppressants, which aim to quiet an overactive immune system
      • Biologic medication, which targets specific proteins or cells

      Long term, treatment will include monitoring symptoms and assessing organ function over time.

    • Patients choose Mayo Clinic Healthcare because of our commitment to delivering world-class, patient-centred care. Patients benefit from:

      • Access to experienced rheumatology and orthopaedic specialists
      • Multidisciplinary collaboration across diagnostic and rehabilitation teams
      • Advanced imaging and evidence-based treatment options
      • Personalised care plans tailored to individual needs
      • Connection to the wider Mayo Clinic network for complex cases
      • A central London location for UK and international patients

    Private health insurance 

    Mayo Clinic Healthcare works with all major private health insurance providers, including AXA PPP, Aviva, BUPA, Health Partners Group, Vitality Health and WPA. Self-pay arrangements are also available.

    Book an assessment

    If you are experiencing symptoms of inflammation, our rheumatology specialists can perform tests for vasculitis to assess your health and recommend next steps. 

    Our team is here to answer your questions and provide personalised treatment options. Request an appointment with us today, or call +44 (0) 207 871 2575. 

     

    Medically Reviewed by

    Dr Anna Nuttall, Consultant Rheumatologist

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    4. Vasculitis