Article title: NINDS Vasculitis including Temporal Arteritis Information Page: NINDS
Main condition: Vasculitis
Conditions: Vasculitis, Temporal arteritis
Table of Contents (click to jump to sections)What
is Vasculitis including Temporal Arteritis?
Is
there any treatment?
What
is the prognosis?
What
research is being done?
Selected
references
Organizations
What is
Vasculitis including Temporal Arteritis?
Vasculitis is an
inflammation of the blood vessel system, which includes the veins,
arteries, and capillaries. Vasculitis may affect blood vessels of any
type, size, or location, and therefore can cause dysfunction in any organ
system, including the central and peripheral nervous systems.
The symptoms
of vasculitis depend on which blood vessels are involved and what organs
in the body are affected. The disorder may occur alone or with other
disorders such as temporal arteritis.
Temporal arteritis (also called
cranial or giant cell arteritis) is an inflammation of the temporal artery
(which runs over the temple, beside the eye).
Symptoms of this disorder
may include stiffness, muscle pain, fever, severe headaches, pain when
chewing, and tenderness in the temple area. Other symptoms may include
anemia, fatigue, weight loss, shaking, vision loss, and sweats.
Is there any
treatment?
Treatment for vasculitis depends on the severity of the
disorder and the individual's general health. Treatment may include
cortisone or cytotoxic drugs. Other treatments may include plasmapheresis
(the removal and reinfusion of blood plasma), intravenous gammaglobulin,
and cyclosporin. Some cases of vasculitis may not require treatment.
Treatment for temporal arteritis and its associated symptoms generally
includes corticosteroid therapy. Early detection of temporal arteritis and
immediate treatment are essential to prevent vision loss.
What is the prognosis?
The
prognosis for individuals with vasculitis varies depending on the severity
of the disorder. Mild cases of vasculitis are generally not
life-threatening, while severe cases (involving major organ systems) may
be permanently disabling or fatal.
The prognosis for individuals with
temporal arteritis is generally good. With treatment, most individuals
achieve complete remission, however vision loss may be irreversible.
What research is being
done?
Several components of the NIH support research on vasculitis
and temporal arteritis. The ultimate goals of this research are to
increase scientific understanding of these disorders and to find ways to
prevent, treat, and cure them.
Selected references
Fauci, A.
The Vasculitis Syndromes In Harrison?s Principles
of Internal Medicine, Vol. 2, 13th edition, McGraw-Hill Book Co., New
York, pp. 1670-1679 (1994)
Gatenby, PA.
Vasculitis-Diagnosis and Treatment Australian
and New Zealand Journal of Medicine 29(5); 662-677 (1999)
Lee, AG, and Brazis, PW.
Temporal Arteritis: A Clinical
Approach Journal of the American Geriatric Society 47(11); 1364-1370
(1999)
Moore, PM.
Central Nervous System Vasculitis Current Opinions
in Neurology 11(3); 241-246 (1998)
Beers, MH, and Berkow, R (eds).
The Merck Manual of Diagnosis
and Therapy 17th edition, Merck Research Laboratories, Whitehouse Station,
NJ, p. 437-439 (1999)
American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association
22100
Gratiot Avenue
Eastpointe
East Detroit, MI 48201-2227
aarda@aol.com
http://www.aarda.org/
Tel:
586-776-3900 800-598-4668
Fax: 586-776-3903
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD)
P.O. Box 8923
(100 Route 37)
New Fairfield, CT 06812-8923
orphan@rarediseases.org
http://www.rarediseases.org/
Tel:
203-746-6518 800-999-NORD (6673)
Fax: 203-746-6481
National Eye Institute (NEI)
National Institutes of Health
Bldg. 31, Rm. 6A32
Bethesda, MD 20892-2510
2020@b31.nei.nih.gov
http://www.nei.nih.gov/
Tel:
301-496-5248 Professionals 800-869-2020
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
(NIAID)
National Institutes of Health
31 Center Drive, Rm. 7A50
MSC 2520
Bethesda, MD 20892-2520
(see website)
http://www.niaid.nih.gov/
Tel:
301-496-5717
This fact sheet is in the public domain. You may copy it.Provided
by:
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD
20892
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