Causes and Diagnoses

Causes, Risk Factors and Diagnoses of Vasculitis

The exact cause of vasculitis is not known. However, a wide range of factors can trigger it.

Vasculitis can affect anyone at any time. Some types of vasculitis are more common among certain age groups or genders. Vasculitis may be triggered by:

  • Infections
  • Medications
  • Genetics
  • Environment
  • Having another autoimmune disorder

Diagnoses

Many tests are used to diagnose vasculitis. Some are general tests and others focus on different parts of the body that might be affected. The tests include:

  • Blood tests:
    • Hemoglobin and hematocrit, which show if there are low levels of red blood cells
    • Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies, which are present with certain types of vasculitis
    • C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, which indicate inflammation is present.
  • Urinalysis: Checks for protein or red blood cells in the urine to see if vasculitis is in your kidneys.
  • Electrocardiogram, Echocardiogram and chest X-rays: These are diagnostic tests that produce images of your heart to show if it is affected by vasculitis.
  • Ultrasound, CT scan and MRIs: These are imaging tests that create pictures of areas, such as the abdomen, to see if organs or blood vessels are affected.
  • Lung function tests: These tests help determine if air is moving freely in and out of your lungs.
  • Angiograph: Your care team will use dye and X-rays to determine if your blood is flowing properly.
  • Biopsy: In a biopsy, a physician takes a small amount of tissue from a blood vessel or organ. Then, it is studied in a lab to see if it is inflamed or damaged.

Complications

Complications of vasculitis vary based on where it is in your body. They include:

  • Kidney failure
  • Blindness
  • Aneurysm (bulge in the wall of the blood vessel)
  • Tissue damage
  • Heart problems