Many people with Lupus develop Vasculitis. Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessels. Several things can happen to an inflamed blood vessel:
* If it is a small vessel, it may break and produce tiny areas of bleeding in the tissue. These areas will appear as small red or purple dots on the skin.
* If a larger vessel is inflamed, it may swell and produce a nodule which may be felt if the blood vessel is close to the skin surface.
* The inside of the vessel tube may become narrowed so that blood flow is reduced.
* The inside of the vessel tube may become totally closed, usually by a blood clot which forms at the site of inflammation.
* If blood flow is reduced or stopped, the tissues which receive blood from that vessel begin to die. For example, a person with vasculitis of a medium-sized artery in the hand may develop a cold finger which hurts whenever it is used.
* Occasionally this can progress to gangrene.
Vasculitis can cause different symptoms, depending on which part of the body is involved. The symptoms can vary from very mild to causing major organ damage.
The symptoms include - muscle & joint pain, fatigue, malaise, fever, weight loss. Red/purple dots (known as petechiae) can develop on the skin, larger spots are known as purpura. Other skin symptoms include - hives, lumpy rashes, gangrene of fingers & toes, ulcers.
Vasculitis in the brain can cause seizures, strokes, headaches & confusion. It can affect the peripheral nerves, causing numbness & tingling, & loss of sensation.
Vasculitis in the heart & kidneys is uncommon in lupus patients. In the lungs it can cause attacks which are like pneumonia, which can lead to scarring of the lung tissue.
Blurred vision can be an indication of vasculitis in the small blood vessels in the retina.
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