What are the Causes of Vasculitis?

A condition in which the blood vessels get inflamed is known as vasculitis. The condition usually occurs when the immune system attacks the blood vessels by mistake. This may take place as a result of an infection, a medicine or another disease or condition.

Inflammation is the body’s response to an injury, which includes injury to the blood vessels. The inflammation can involve pain, redness, warmth, swelling and loss of function in the affected tissues. The condition can lead to some serious problems depending on which blood vessels, organs other body systems are affected.

Other Names of Vasculitis

The other names with which the condition is known as are:

• Angiitis
• Arteritis

Causes of Vasculitis

When the immune system attacks the blood vessels by mistake, vasculitis occurs. However, the cause of this condition is not completely known. A recent infection may trigger and attack. The body may also attack its own blood vessels in reaction to a medicine. At times an autoimmune disorder can also cause the condition. Autoimmune disorders occur when the immune system makes antibodies that attack and damage the body’s own tissues or cells. The conditions like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma are some of the examples of autoimmune disorders. Vasculitis can also be linked to some blood cancer like leukemia and lymphoma.

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