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Thursday, June 21, 2012

Rheumatoid Vasculitis

This disease, which is also generally referred to as simply Vasculitis, is an inflammation of the blood vessels which damages their lining and causes them to become weak, stretched, increased or narrowed in size, and can eventually result in thrombosis and blockage.

Rheumatoid Vasculitis affects a low percentage of people of all ages who are suffering from RA and usually occurs in the small and medium sized blood vessels close to the skin's surface. Other types of Vasculitis can wreak havoc on one ore multiple organs through limitation of the blood supply and necessary oxygen levels needed by the body's tissues and organs.

Most of the cases are mild and may not need any treatment, but on rare occasions it can happen that veins and arteries are so damaged that they rupture and cause strokes or heart attacks. RV (Rheumatoid Vasculitis) is momentarily labeled as an auto-immune disease and seems to be a result of (chronic) infections as experienced with RA, lupus or Sjögren's syndrome, or can be an allergic reaction to medications.

Some of the symptoms of Vasculitis can be a rash, numbness, muscle weakness, fever, loss of appetite, unusual weight loss, and lack of energy. When you have any of these symptoms it may be wise to consult your doctor who will do a physical exam, order some specific blood tests and/or X-rays, tissue biopsies, blood vessel and heart scans.

Depending on the outcome, you may be given steroids or a very low dose of chemotherapy drugs. These medications can lead to the remission of the disease or cure it all together, after which you could slowly be getting off the medications. You will be carefully monitored for the rest of your life though, just to ensure everything is and remains under control.

We may not always contemplate on or be aware of it, but we are constantly monitored. God keeps His eye on us all the time. He knows and provides all that is needed to cure whatever ails us and leads and guides us to and on the right path!

Proverbs 15:3
The eyes of the LORD are in every place, Keeping watch on the evil and the good.

2 Comments:

Blogger Shelley said...

hi there, I have SS and along side it the vasculitis - going on 5 years now and I am on a a low dose of a chemotherapy drug (weekly methotrexate self injections) and steroids by mouth daily. what you shared in your post is very accurate and yes, they will follow me closely the rest of my life and although it's complicated I'm grateful for the medicine and research! thanks!

June 21, 2012 9:28 PM  
Blogger Corry said...

Shelley,
I am sorry to hear about all you have been and still are going through and I am grateful you get some relief with the medications.

You are in my prayers. May God bless you abundantly!

God's Grace.

June 22, 2012 5:18 AM  

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