Symptoms of systemic vasculitis
Last reviewed: 23.04.2024
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In the initial period of systemic vasculitis, common features of nonspecific inflammatory syndrome are observed: subfebrile or febrile fever, arthralgia, weight loss, signs of peripheral and visceral vascular disorders, leukocytosis in peripheral blood, increased ESR, dysproteinemia, positive response to anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapy. Along with common signs, each disease has a characteristic clinical picture. The peculiarity of the symptoms of systemic vasculitis is due to the localization of vasculitis, the caliber of the affected vessels and the prevalence of the pathological process, the character of the morphological changes (the predominance of destructive or proliferative vasculitis, the presence of granulomatosis), the degree of hemodynamic disorder and tissue ischemia.
Diagnosis of each disease from the group of systemic vasculitis is based on the characteristic clinical features. Laboratory indicators reflect only inflammatory activity, therefore, according to indications, ultrasound and dopplerography are used. REG, RVG, CT, MRI, aortography, diagnostic biopsy. Instrumental studies can reveal the level and nature of vascular lesions, vascular deformity, signs of disturbance of extra- or intra-organ blood circulation, and with Wegener's granulomatosis an additional shadow in the eye orbit. If morphological confirmation of the diagnosis is necessary, the biopsy should be taken before the beginning of the basic therapy: with nodular polyarteritis - from the affected area (near the necrosis site, in the nodule or liewedo area), simultaneously - the skin, subcutaneous tissue and muscle; with Wegener's granulomatosis - near the granuloma, the site of necrosis or perforation.
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