Vasculitis: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Achuta Uppu, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Vasculitis?
A rheumatologist, a doctor who treats autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, usually diagnoses and treats vasculitis. You may also see a kidney, lung, skin, eye, or nerve specialist, depending on the type. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is vasculitis?
Vasculitis is a group of rare conditions that cause inflammation, or swelling, in the blood vessels. It can affect blood vessels of any size, anywhere in the body. The swollen walls of the vessels can narrow or completely block blood flow. This can lead to poor blood flow to organs like the lungs, kidneys, skin, eyes, or nerves.
Rarely, a swollen vessel wall can balloon out. This bulge is called an aneurysm and has thin walls that can tear. There are many types, and each type affects different parts of the body.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the type of vasculitis, the blood vessels involved, and how serious it is. Some people have few symptoms, while others become very sick. Symptoms can build slowly over months or appear quickly over days or weeks. General symptoms can include:
- Tiredness and fever.
- General aches and pains.
- Loss of appetite and weight loss.
- Rashes, red spots, lumps, or sores on the skin.
- Headaches with vision changes.
- Joint pain or sinus problems.
- Shortness of breath and cough.
- Numbness or weakness in a hand or foot.
Vasculitis may seriously affect the kidneys without many symptoms at first. Blindness in one eye may be the first sign of giant cell arteritis. Blood vessels damaged by vasculitis can narrow and block blood flow. Some of the problems that follow can be life-threatening. They include a tear inside the aorta, heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. The aorta is the main artery that carries blood to your body.
Causes and who gets it
Vasculitis is called primary when the cause is unknown, and secondary when something else causes it. Possible triggers include infections, injury, and some drugs. Another trigger is an autoimmune disorder. In this kind of disease, the immune system reacts against normal cells and tissues in the body. Some types of vasculitis are reactions to medicines, cancer, or viral infections such as hepatitis B or C.
How doctors diagnose it
A rheumatologist can make the diagnosis. The diagnosis is based on your symptoms, a physical exam, lab tests, and a tissue biopsy, a small sample of tissue. Doctors sometimes use imaging, which means pictures of the body, to look for blood vessel problems.
Treatment
Glucocorticoids are used to treat inflammation in many types of vasculitis. For milder vasculitis, doctors may use methotrexate, azathioprine, or other immunosuppressants, which are medicines that calm the immune system. Newer biologic drugs can treat certain types of vasculitis.
Some people with severe disease receive plasma exchange or IVIG, a medicine given through a vein. If severe vasculitis damages blood vessels or organs, surgery may be needed to repair them. Medicine can help improve symptoms and help you avoid flares. With treatment, vasculitis can go into remission, which is a time with no active disease. People who take immunosuppressants need to take steps to reduce infection risk.
When to see a doctor
See a doctor if you have a new rash with red spots, lumps, or sores. Also see a doctor for headaches with vision changes, a cough, shortness of breath, or numbness or weakness in a hand or foot. Vasculitis can lead to serious problems such as a tear in the aorta, a heart attack, or a stroke. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if you have chest pain or discomfort lasting two minutes or more, severe trouble breathing, or coughing up blood. Also call 911 for fainting, sudden weakness, sudden dizziness, a sudden change in vision, or severe belly pain.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either kind of doctor can do a first evaluation and order basic blood tests. They can also track how you are doing between specialist visits and help coordinate care with a rheumatologist and other specialists.
Common questions
What kind of doctor treats vasculitis?
A rheumatologist, a doctor who treats autoimmune and inflammatory diseases, most often diagnoses and treats vasculitis. You may also need care from an eye, skin, nerve, kidney, or lung specialist, depending on the type.
Can vasculitis go away?
Vasculitis can go into remission with treatment, which means a time when the disease is not active. It can also come back, because some people have repeated episodes throughout life.
Is vasculitis an autoimmune disease?
Vasculitis may be an autoimmune disease, but not always. Some types are reactions to medicines, cancer, or viral infections such as hepatitis B or C.
Can vasculitis be life-threatening?
Yes, some problems caused by vasculitis can be life-threatening. These problems include a tear in the aorta, a heart attack, or a stroke. With treatment, the outlook for patients with vasculitis is good.
Sources
- American College of Rheumatology - Vasculitis
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - What Is Vasculitis?
- National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - Vasculitis Symptoms
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
