The vasculitides is a group of diseases that represent many different conditions capable of causing vasculitis. Immune system abnormality is a common feature. The range and severity of symptoms associated with vasculitis may vary greatly. Difficult to diagnose Diagnosing vasculitis is a clinical challenge because it is a syndrome, not a specific disease. The initial presentation of vasculitis can be as varied as the syndrome.
Some patients have persistent constitutional symptoms, such as lingering cold.
In some cases the lungs are markedly involved, in the form of pneumonia or asthma. A patient with hypersensitivity vasculitis may initially present with a skin rash. Physicians may find that a suspicion of vasculitis often enters into differential diagnosis of many patients. Signs and symptoms of vasculitis include abnormal liver function, fever, neurologic complaints, hypertension, and kidney disorders. Simple laboratory tests, including a white blood cell count and sedimentation rate, are useful for ruling out the most serious vasculitides.