Vasculitis is a remarkably complex disease affecting multiple organ systems. Comprehensive care may require coordinated treatment across an array of specialties, including rheumatology, nephrology and pulmonology.

To simplify disease management for each patient, the Multidisciplinary Vasculitis Clinic at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center brings all of these specialties to one location. As a result, not only are appointments more convenient because you can see multiple physicians in a single visit, but each patient’s team of physicians can easily collaborate onsite, in person, to form a care plan that encompasses all aspects of this complex disease. Each element of care is evaluated for its effectiveness and impact on the patient’s overall well-being.

If your team of physicians considers you an appropriate candidate, you can enroll in one of Ohio State’s clinical trials. We are one of the nation’s leading research-driven institutions, and our trials provide the opportunity to elevate your care and improve outcomes.
 

Why choose Ohio State for vasculitis care?

 
Ohio State Wexner Medical Center has been nationally ranked for 26 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report. In fact, two of the specialties directly involved with the Multidisciplinary Vasculitis Clinic are ranked in the Top 25 by U.S. News: Nephrology and Pulmonology.

Becker’s Hospital Review selected us for its 2017 list of “100 Great Hospitals in America” for excellence in quality patient care and clinical research, leadership in innovation and our rankings and awards.

What is Vasculitis?


Sometimes also called angiitis and arteritis, vasculitis is an autoimmune disease that causes inflammation of blood vessels, including veins, arteries and capillaries. Because of the resulting damage to vessels and change in blood flow, organs throughout the body can be impacted.


Conditions/ Treatments

Conditions and Treatments

We treat adults diagnosed with vasculitis, a category of diseases causing inflammation of blood vessels that can affect many organ systems. 

The most common diagnoses include, but are not limited to:
  • Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis
    • Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA)
    • Granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA; formerly known as Wegener’s granulomatosis)
    • Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA; formerly known as Churg-Strauss syndrome)
    • Renal-limited vasculitis (RLV or ANCA-associated renal vasculitis)
  • Anti-glomerular basement membrane antibody syndrome (formerly known as Goodpasture syndrome)
  • Antiphospholipid antibody syndrome
  • IgA vasculitis (also known as Henoch-Schonlein purpura)
  • Behcet’s disease
  • Polyarteritis nodosa
  • Giant cell arteritis
  • Alveolar hemorrhage
  • Glomerulonephritis

Symptoms

Symptoms

Patients may experience a range of symptoms, depending on which type of blood vessels and organs are affected by inflammation.

Although every patient deals with a different set of individual physical issues, vasculitis is ultimately a systemic illness, which means that it impacts the entire body, even when symptoms are localized to just one or a few body parts. As a result, many patients feel generally “sick” with fever, weight loss, fatigue and overall aches and pains. Virtually any organ system or part of the body can be impacted, but the most common include the kidney, lungs, sinus system, skin, joints, digestive track, brain, nervous system, ears and eyes.

Ohio State’s multidisciplinary approach can be incredibly effective when searching for solutions. Whatever your challenges, we will work together to find your best path to improved overall health.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Diagnosis can be difficult because the symptoms of vasculitis can be so similar to other diseases.

While blood tests, X-rays and other tests may point to vasculitis, these studies may not be definitive. Therefore, we may have to take a small sample or biopsy of involved organs to confirm the inflammatory process under the microscope.

Research

Research

The Multidisciplinary Vasculitis Clinic is one of the recruiting sites for the Lupus/Vasculitis/Glomerulonephritis registry, an observational study that collects data about and biospecimens from patients affected by those disorders. The information we collect is used to gain more knowledge about the causes and progression of vasculitis, ultimately translating into better methods to diagnose, monitor and treat patients.

We also participate in therapeutic clinical trials, which provides access to even more treatment options.

Additional Information

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