Vasculitis Care

What is vasculitis? 

Vasculitis includes a rare group of conditions where the immune system attacks the blood vessels, causing inflammation. Occasionally, medications or infections can trigger vasculitis though in most cases the cause of vasculitis is unknown. They are rare conditions and most forms of vasculitis affect only several people out of a million. 

The forms of vasculitis are defined based on the size of the blood vessel involved (large-, medium- or small-vessels). Vasculitis can cause a wide array of symptoms. Vasculitis symptoms vary depending on the form of vasculitis and the vessels affected. 

Some of them include:

• Fatigue, loss of appetite, weight loss, low grade fevers
• Muscle aches or joint pain
• Headache
• Burning nerve-like pain, numbness, tingling or weakness of the arms or legs
• Skin rashes
• Loss of circulation to fingers or toes
• Chest pain
• Difficulty breathing
• Sinus inflammation
• Kidney inflammation with frothy urine or dark colored urine
• Eye redness, inflammation or vision changes
• Stroke
• Arm or leg weakness due to issues with circulation
• Stomach pain especially after eating

Often times, the early symptoms are vague which can delay diagnosis. Furthermore, depending on which part of your body is affected by inflammation, vasculitis complications can be serious and potentially life-threatening. For example, inflammation in the blood vessels supplying the brain may lead to a stroke while vasculitis in your kidneys can cause kidney failure. 

It is essential to diagnose vasculitis early and start treatment as soon as possible to lower the risk of complications.

Why choose UCLA Health for vasculitis care?

The UCLA Health Vasculitis Program is the first comprehensive, multispecialty program in Southern California dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of patients with vasculitis. Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are important in preventing complications. Given the rarity of these conditions, evaluation at a center with expertise in diagnosis and management can be impactful.

Our expert team of multiple specialists is dedicated to meeting the complex needs of patients with the different forms of vasculitis. Our team provides multidisciplinary, collaborative, coordinated care tailored to patients with vasculitis. We use state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and offer individualized treatments to reduce the risk of complications and improve the lives of patients.  

Highlights of our program include:

• Clinical excellence: You receive care from a dedicated team of physicians from multiple specialties with expertise in vasculitis. Our goal is to provide timely, comprehensive, multidisciplinary care and personalized treatments. 
• Research: As one of the nation’s most prestigious academic centers, we collaborate in research studies to advance the care of patients with vasculitis.
• Education: Our physicians raise awareness about vasculitis by educating trainees, physicians and allied health professionals in early recognition. Another mission is empowering patients through education and sharing knowledge.

We evaluate patients 18 years and older. For pediatric patients, please visit Pediatric Rheumatology.

Our team

Our vasculitis team includes a wide range of experts dedicated to the coordinated care of patients with vasculitis. We evaluate, diagnose and treat all types of vasculitis.