Encyclopedia of Health and Medicine

300 The Immune System and Allergies
and symptoms though each of which has unique
traits. Vasculitis may be acute (come on suddenly,
run its course, and be over) or chronic (symptoms
persist or come and go). Though vasculitis can
affect any kind of blood vessel in the body, it most
often involves arteries.
Symptoms and Diagnostic Path
Each type of vasculitis has unique symptoms. All
types of vasculitis have in common these general
symptoms:
• weight loss and loss of APPETITE
Type of Vasculitis Unique Symptoms Treatment and Outlook
giant cell arteritis primarily occurs in adults over age 50 high-DOSE corticosteroid medications for two to
(temporal arteritis) affects arteries in the upper body, notably four weeks
the neck and head (carotid network) long-term corticosteroid therapy
severe HEADACHE, jaw PAIN, and scalp delayed treatment establishes high risk for
tenderness
blindness resulting from optic NEUROPATHY
blind spots (scotoma), blurred vision, tends to be chronic
and other vision disturbances
Henoch-Schönlein purpura primarily occurs in children under age 6 complete recovery without treatment (selfpurplish
RASH on the legs and feet
limiting course of disease)
acute illness that lasts about 2 weeks possible complications, though uncommon,
affects blood vessels of the skin, joints, include RENAL FAILURE and GASTROINTESTINAL
gastrointestinal tract, and KIDNEYS
BLEEDING
hypersensitivity vasculitis affects small arteries in the skin, corticosteroid medications or immunosuppressive
(leukocytoclastic vasculitis) kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, lungs, medications when involvement is systemic
and joints
symptoms can be recurrent
palpable (raised) PURPURA, commonly
on the legs
KAWASAKI’S DISEASE occurs primarily in children under age 5 high-dose, intravenous GAMMAGLOBULIN
(mucocutaneous LYMPH acute onset with high FEVER lasting five aspirin
NODE syndrome) days to two weeks most children fully recover without complications
fever does not drop with aspirin or risk for coronary ARTERY INFLAMMATION and aortic
acetaminophen
ANEURYSM
inflamed and reddened eyes, reddened requires lifelong monitoring for CARDIOVASCULAR
and chapped lips, peeling skin, and
DISEASE (CVD)
joint pain
microscopic polyangiitis more common in adults over age 50 corticosteroid medications in combination with
affects arteries in the kidneys, skin, lungs, immunosuppressive medications
and that serve PERIPHERAL NERVES
trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (antibiotic therapy)
fever
purpura and other skin rashes
neuropathy and loss of NERVE function to
feet and hands
alveolar hemorrhage (bleeding into the
tiny air sacs in the lungs)