Anatom3D
ENCZDE
Download

Vasculitis (GCA & others)

Vasculitis · Vaskulitida (obrovskobuněčná arteritida a další)

What it is

Immune attack on vessel walls; giant cell arteritis can blind within days.

Symptoms & signs

  • Temple headache
  • scalp tenderness
  • jaw ache on chewing
  • sudden vision loss
  • fever
  • weight loss

🚩 Get help if…

  • call 112 / 911 now Sudden loss or blurring of vision in one eye
  • call 112 / 911 now Coughing up blood or breathlessness
  • see a doctor soon New temple headache or jaw pain on chewing after 50
  • see a doctor soon Purple spots on the legs, blood in urine or less urine

Where it strikes

Medical treatment

  • Immediate high-dose steroids for GCA
  • tocilizumab
  • methotrexate
  • rituximab for ANCA vasculitis
  • cyclophosphamide in severe cases
  • avacopan for ANCA vasculitis — approved (FDA 2021, EMA 2022)

Natural & lifestyle

  • Bone protection while on steroids
  • calcium and vitamin D
  • infection precautions

Emerging & experimental

  • IL-6 and JAK inhibitors
  • PET-guided monitoring

Alternative, off-label & anecdotal

Approaches used outside the guidelines, with what their supporters report and what testing has found so far.

  • Curcumin and fish oil as steroid-sparing — small studies only early / small studies
  • Anti-inflammatory diet — patients report benefit; untested anecdotal / traditional

ICD codes