Necrotizing vasculitis

Injury	Disease	Nutrition	Poison

Symptoms	Surgery	Test	Special Topic

Circulatory system

Overview

Symptoms

Treatment

Prevention

Necrotizing vasculitis

Alternative Names:

Vasculitis - necrotizing

Symptoms:

Skin lesion
- Papule (small, solid, and raised lesion)
- Lesions red or purple (purpuric)
- Lesions on the legs, hands, or other areas
Fingers that change color (blueness of the fingers or toes)
Infarction (tissue death due to lack of oxygen)
- Pain or tenderness in the area
- Redness (if superficial area)
- Non-healing ulcers
Joint pain (such as knee pain, elbow pain)
Abdominal pain
Pain, numbness, tingling in an extremity or any area
Changes or decrease in function of an extremity or any area
Fever

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

Weakness
Swallowing difficulty
Speech impairment
Leg pain
Muscle contractions
Muscle atrophy
Movement difficulty
Painful menstruation
Hoarseness or changing voice
Fatigue
Pupils that are different size
Eyelid drooping

Note: Symptoms vary depending on the location of the affected vessels.

Signs and tests:

Examination findings may vary depending on the part of the body affected by the necrotizing vasculitis. Neurologic examination may show single or multiple neuropathy (nerve damage).

A biopsy of the suspected muscle, nerve biopsy, or organ or tissue biopsy shows vasculitis.
A chest x-ray indicates lesions of the chest.
A sedimentation rate that is elevated (nonspecific finding).
A urinalysis shows blood, casts, urine protein, or other abnormalities.
Hepatitis blood tests are positive.
Blood test for antibodies against neutrophils (ANCA antibodies); these antibodies are often seen in vasculitic disorders.

Review Date: 8/2/2005
Reviewed By: Ariel D. Teitel, M.D., M.B.A., Chief, Division of Rheumatology, St. Vincent's Hospital, New York, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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