Vasculitis is a group of disorders that occurs when the blood vessels are destroyed by inflammation. It's most commonly caused by leukocyte (white blood cells) migration and the damage that occurs due to it. There are many underlying causes of the disorder and it may affect various parts of the body, causing health complications. It can be diagnosed by the cause, the location and the type of blood vessels affected. Underlying causes may be, but are not limited to, rheumatic diseases, cancers, infections or chemical and drug exposure. For example, some amphetamine users have characteristic purpura around their mouths. Depending on the type of disorder, it will affect different parts of the body. For example, Buerger's disease affects the vessels in the legs and veins, causing gangrene and Wegener's granulomatosis affects the vessels in the lungs, nose and kidneys.
Treatments are available for vasculitis and are directed to target the inflammation, which causes the vessel destruction, and to suppress the immune system's white blood cell migration. Corticosteriods, specifically prednisone, are usually administered to the patients because it's an effective immunosuppressant drug which reduces inflammation. If it has been caused by infection, possibly hepatitis C, antimicrobial treatments will need to be implemented to address the underlying cause.
Churg-Strauss Syndrome (also called eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangitis [EGPA]) is a rare autoimmune condition which cannot be inherited or transmitted and predominantly features vasculitis as one of its symptoms. It is particularly serious since the vessels affected can be located in the lungs, heart, kidneys and skin. Churg-Strauss Syndrome (EGPA) develops in three stages: The allergic stage, the Eosinophilic stage and finally, the Vasculitic stage. The allergic stage can be characterised by the experience of asthma or allergic rhinitis, with around 90% of sufferers having a history of asthma or a newly developing asthma.
The second stage of the syndrome is the eosinophilic stage where it's identified by hypereosinophilia. Hypereosinophilia features higher than usual amounts of eosinophils, which are a specific type of white blood cell, in the blood and tissues. This causes damage to the body and the symptoms of the eosinophilic stage vary, depending on the part of the body which has been affected; most commonly the lungs and the digestive tract. The symptoms are, but not limited to, asthma, coughing, gastrointestinal bleeding, abdominal pain and fever.
The final stage of EGPA is the Vasculitic stage. The inflammation causes the reduction of blood flow to organs and tissues, inflicting severe damage. This causes serious health complications such as Thombrosis and cardiac disease which is the cause for over half the deaths associated with EGPA.
The treatment of Churg-Strauss syndrome (EGPA) usually involves dosages of glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive drugs. Examples include, but are not limited to, prednisolone and azathioprine. By the use of drugs, EGPA can be put on remission but treatments will have to be sustained for life in order to prevent cases of relapse. If the heart or lungs are damaged by EGPA, medical treatment may be required to address any problems.