Vasculitis is a medical condition in which tissues in the body are damaged due to overproduction of the protective lining of the blood vessels. Vasculitis means inflammation of these blood vessels. The bigger the damaged blood vessel, the greater the inflammation; and the more impaired the sensitive body tissue, the greater the damage will probably be.
Vasculitis most commonly occurs in older individuals. Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) is an uncommon disease with an incidence of about 20 per million population per year in Europe and North America. In the U.S., the prevalence of vasculitis is expected to be high, owing to increasing geriatric population. For instance, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, the U.S. geriatric population is expected to reach 77 million by 2034.
Most patients undergoing vasculitis treatment experience improvements after just one week, but in some cases, patients require between one to three months before significant improvements are noticed. However, if the underlying cause is determined (e.g., diabetes), then this could take as long as six months or even longer, especially when the disease is being treated along with a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug regimen. Also, patients taking immunosuppressive drugs should not stop taking their medications suddenly, especially if they've been on such drugs for a while.
One of the treatments that can help manage and reduce the pain caused by vasculitis is glucocorticoids. Glucocorticoids are naturally produced by the body in response to injury or infection. They work to stabilize the blood's glucose levels and to minimize inflammation. Common anti-inflammatory medications used in the treatment of vasculitis include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), corticosteroids, and triazolam. In recent years, however, newer drugs called eagles and vaseriox were approved by the FDA to treat and prevent the development of vasculitis.
Vasculitis patients are often given an anti-inflammatory medication and are put on a course of glucocorticoids in order to achieve clinical remission. If the disease is in its early stages, it's most common for the doctor to aim for a remission. There is no specific guideline on how long to aim for clinical remission; it depends on the patient, his condition, and the severity of his disease. Patients may have to remain on the drug regimen until all signs and symptoms of vasculitis have completely healed. However, patients can resume taking the NSAIDs once the disease has been completely cured.
Another vasculitis treatment approach includes boosting the immune system. There are two ways to boost the immune system in patients taking anti-inflammatory drugs: through a change in diet and through natural supplements. Patients taking immunosuppressive drugs should also receive a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals, since vitamin D and calcium are beneficial to the immune system. Furthermore, patients taking Vitamin C supplements or Vitamin E supplements should try to stay indoors at least 8 hours a day as this can greatly enhance the body's natural defenses against diseases such as vasculitis.
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