Vasculitis
Educational information. Individual clinical review of this presentation by Dr. Ehsan is not yet documented. It does not replace personal medical evaluation.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine. Read the original source
MedlinePlus data edition September 26, 2026. Imported September 27, 2026. These dates do not indicate a new clinical review of the article.
Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels. It happens when the body's immune system attacks the blood vessel by mistake. It can happen because of an infection, a medicine, or another disease. The cause is often unknown.
Vasculitis can affect arteries, veins and capillaries. Arteries are vessels that carry blood from the heart to the body's organs. Veins are the vessels that carry blood back to the heart. Capillaries are tiny blood vessels that connect the small arteries and veins.
When a blood vessel becomes inflamed, it can:
- Narrow, making it more difficult for blood to get through.
- Close off completely so that blood can't get through.
- Stretch and weaken so much that it bulges. The bulge is called an aneurysm. If it bursts, it can cause dangerous bleeding inside the body.
Symptoms of vasculitis can vary, but usually include fever, swelling and a general sense of feeling ill. The main goal of treatment is to stop the inflammation. Steroids and other medicines to stop inflammation are often helpful.
NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
Symptoms, tests and care options
Further reading selected by MedlinePlus. Links open the original organizations’ websites.
- Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies (ANCA) Test · National Library of Medicine
- C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test · National Library of Medicine
- CT Angiography (CTA) · Radiological Society of North America
- Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) · Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
- Methotrexate · Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
- Prednisone · Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center
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For a life-threatening emergency, call 911 in the U.S. or your local emergency number.
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