In our article, we will focus on a disease such as vasculitis on the legs. We will find out what symptoms he has, what are his main causes, and also find out how to diagnose and treat.
A whole group of vascular diseases, which are characterized by inflammatory processes and the destruction of the walls of arteries, veins and capillaries, are called vasculitis. According to ICD 10 (international classification of diseases of the 10th revision), this pathology received several markings:
- D69.0, D89.1 - systemic hemorrhagic vascular damage (these include allergic purpura, rheumatic purpura, Shenlein-Genoch disease);
- L95.0 - atrophy white (marbled skin);
- L95.1 - persistent elevated erythema;
- L95.8, L95.9 - a group of diseases with limited skin.
By its nature, vasculitis usually resembles atherosclerosis. It is based on a thickening of the walls of blood vessels, due to which the lumen of the channel decreases, there is a violation of blood circulation. Because of this, the normal blood supply to a certain part of the body or organ stops.
Basic information about the disease
Blood, in addition to nutrients, also delivers oxygen. Of course, due to the appearance of circulatory disorders, starving organs cease to function properly. I must say that the causes of this disease are still not fully understood. There are only assumptions. For example, a combination of genetic characteristics, infections and other adverse factors is considered to be the reasons.
Classification of vasculitis on the legs involves a large number of different types, but depending on the causes, the pathology is divided into primary and secondary forms. The primary acts as an independent disease, and the secondary occurs against the background of other pathologies. By localization, vasculitis is distinguished:
- appearing on the skin, while on their background other organs are not damaged;
- internal.
It should be noted that the consequences of internal vasculitis can be serious heart disease, and death is also possible. Among other things, there are urticaric, dermal, allergic and systemic types.
What are the symptoms of vasculitis?
Symptomatology
Common signs and symptoms of the disease, as a rule, are:
- The presence of increased fatigue, general weakness and malaise.
- The presence of increased body temperature.
- The appearance of pallor of the skin.
- Complete lack of appetite, along with nausea, and sometimes vomiting.
- Weight loss along with exacerbation of heart and vascular diseases.
- The appearance of headaches, dizziness and fainting.
- The presence of visual impairment.
- The development of sinusitis, sometimes accompanied by the formation of polyps in the nose.
- The development of renal lesions. In addition, the lungs or upper respiratory tract may be affected.
- General violation of sensitivity.
- The development of arthralgia and myalgia.
- The appearance of skin rashes.
Symptoms of vasculitis directly depend on the type and form of the disease. But I must say that the main symptom is always a violation of the normal blood circulation process.
Hemorrhagic vasculitis in children
Hemorrhagic vasculitis, it is also called capillarotoxicosis or Shenlein-Genoch disease - a pathology characterized by damage to small blood vessels (capillaries, arterioles, venules), which are located in the skin, joints, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. It occurs at any age of the child, but up to 3 years this rarely happens.
The exact cause of hemorrhagic vasculitis in children has not yet been established. Presumably, the whole fault is a malfunction in the immune system that produces antibodies against its own vascular cells: an autoimmune process is launched. The vascular wall becomes more friable, its permeability increases, small-point hemorrhages occur .
Complications
As a rule, the following complications are observed against the background of this disease:
- Sight is lost.
- Kidney necrosis develops.
- Coronary heart disease appears.
- Myocardial infarction or stroke develops.
It is important to note that as a result of this pathology, a fatal outcome is not excluded.
What are the causes of vasculitis symptoms?
The main causes of the disease
As mentioned earlier, the etiology of the disease has not yet been fully studied, but there is confirmed evidence regarding some causes. So, the causes of vasculitis can be the following:
- The presence of a genetic predisposition.
- The presence of infection of the body as a result of weakened immunity.
- The presence of hyperactivity immunity to infection.
- The appearance of an allergic reaction to certain drugs.
- The occurrence of inflammatory processes in the thyroid gland.
- The development of autoimmune processes in the body.
- The appearance of complications of pathologies such as reactive arthritis, Schwartz syndrome, glomerulonephritis and systemic lupus.
All this can lead to external manifestations of vasculitis. What is this disease?
Formation criteria
Vasculitis may differ in primary development, which will be due to the process of inflammation of the walls of blood vessels. There is also a secondary form of this disease, which is caused by the reaction of blood vessels in the presence of other diseases. We will consider the classification of vasculitis below. For example, the following types are secondary:
- Vasculitis associated with hepatitis B.
- The appearance of cryoglobulinemic vasculitis associated with hepatitis C.
- Forms of vasculitis that are associated with syphilis.
- The appearance of immunocomplex vasculitis, which are associated with medications.
- Types of vasculitis that are associated with oncological pathologies.
Systemic vasculitis
The following systemic vasculitis are distinguished:
- Hemorrhagic. This type is accompanied by aseptic inflammation of small vessels, multiple microthrombosis, which develops mainly in the kidneys, intestines and other organs. Often accompanied by arthritis and arthralgia.
- Lupus erythematosus.
- Vasculitis against Behcet's disease.
- Rheumatoid.
- The development of pathology on the background of sarcoidosis.
What is the diagnosis of vasculitis?
Diagnostics
Diagnosis of the disease, first of all, involves the following examination methods:
- Submission of a general blood test by the patient.
- Biochemical analysis.
- Performing an ultrasound examination of the kidneys.
- Echocardiography
- Performing electrocardiography.
- Radiography of the lungs.
- Performing angiography.
- Biopsy of the affected tissue and its further investigation.
With vasculitis, a significant increase in ESR is characteristic. Also, against the background of this disease, people have moderate thrombocytosis along with normochromic anemia, and in addition, they have glomerulonephritis.
Treatment of vasculitis of the lower extremities
The effectiveness of vasculitis therapy directly depends on timely and accurate diagnosis, on the treatment of diseased organs and associated pathologies. In some situations, this disease can go away on its own. So, conducting complex therapy involves the following steps:
- Conducting drug treatment.
- The implementation of physiotherapy.
- Compliance with the patient a certain diet.
- The use of preventive measures.
It is important to note that with symptoms of vasculitis, immediately before using medicines, you must consult with your doctor first.
Medical treatment
Drug therapy of systemic vasculitis is primarily aimed at the following goals:
- Achieving suppression of pathological reactions that are the basis of the disease.
- The process of maintaining persistent and prolonged remission.
- Treatment of relapse pathology.
- Prevention of secondary pathologies and complications.
Prescribed medications for the treatment of vasculitis
Glucocorticoids are a group of hormonal drugs that have anti-inflammatory, anti-allergic, immunoregulatory, anti-stress and anti-shock effects. In this disease, these hormones play a crucial role, contributing to the achievement of persistent and prolonged remission. Among glucocorticoids, drugs such as Prednisone along with Hydrocortisone should be mentioned.
Cytostatic drugs are antitumor, disrupting and slowing down the mechanisms of division, growth and development of pathogenic cells, which is especially true in the case of malignant tumors. Also, these funds are considered effective for jade. Good effectiveness in treatment is achieved against the background of the simultaneous administration of cytostatics with glucocorticoids. In particular, this combination helps in the treatment of urticarial, hemorrhagic, cryoglobulinemic and giant cell vasculitis. The total duration of administration of cytostatics, as a rule, is from three to twelve months. Among these drugs, it is appropriate to name such drugs as Cyclophosphamide along with Methotrexate, Doxorubicin, and Fluorouracil.
In the human body there are monoclonal antibodies that are produced by immune cells, they have an immunosuppressive and antitumor effect. These antibodies are highly effective against skin and breast cancer. Medicines from the category of monoclonal antibodies are no less effective than cytostatics and are widely used to treat vasculitis. The appointment of these medicines is advisable in case of undesirable use of cytostatic drugs. A contraindication to the use of this category of drugs is the presence of hepatitis B in a patient. Among monoclonal anti-vasculitis preparations, “Rituximab” should be distinguished.
Immunosuppressants are a group of drugs that inhibit the effects of immunity. With vasculitis, immunosuppressants are prescribed in combination with glucocorticoids. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed in the presence of thrombophlebitis and nodular vasculitis. Among non-steroid formulations, it is worth highlighting acetylsalicylic acid along with Ibuprofen, Indomethacin and Phenylbutazone.
Anticoagulants are drugs that prevent blood clots from forming in blood vessels. Among them are drugs such as Warfarin along with Heparin. Antihistamine therapy is used if the patient is allergic to medications or food products. Among the antihistamines in the complex treatment of vasculitis, “Diazolin” should be distinguished along with “Claritin”, “Tavegil”, “Terfen” and “Fenkarol”. Therapy of vasculitis in children involves transfusion treatment.
Clinical recommendations for vasculitis should be strictly followed.
Using physiotherapeutic treatments
As for the physiotherapeutic methods of treating this disease, it should be noted that plasmapheresis is currently widely used, which contributes to a significant improvement in the efficiency of the kidneys. This technique reduces the risk of end-stage renal failure.
What to choose a diet for vasculitis?
Diet on the background of the disease
The diet on the background of the treatment of vasculitis contains a hypoallergenic nature, which is extremely important, given the allergic nature of the disease. Thus, foods belonging to the highly allergenic category are usually excluded from the diet. So, with vasculitis, it is not recommended to use:
- Whole milk, eggs and seafood, caviar.
- Strawberries, wild strawberries, bananas and melons.
- Citrus products along with mango and persimmon are prohibited.
- Limit the use of tomatoes, carrots and bell peppers.
- It is recommended to abandon nuts, coffee, chocolate and cocoa.
- It is necessary to completely exclude industrial canned food, as well as products for which there is an individual intolerance.
With the concomitant presence of severe nephritis, patients are prescribed diet No. 7. Next, a gradual transition to a hypochloride diet is required. In case of abdominal syndrome, diet No. 1 is indicated.
Alternative treatment of vasculitis is also effective.
Treatment of ailment with the help of folk methods
It is important to emphasize that immediately before using alternative methods in the fight against vasculitis, it is imperative to consult with your doctor. Various treatments have proven themselves very well in the treatment of this disease. Here are some recipes.
- Four tablespoons of chopped elderberry flowers should be mixed with the fruits of Japanese sophora, dioecious nettle leaves, yarrow and knotweed grass. One spoon of the resulting collection is poured into a glass of boiling water and the medicine is infused for an hour. After this, the prepared product can be filtered. The resulting infusion must be taken within a day up to three times.
- As part of the second recipe, you need to mix three tablespoons of calendula flowers with elderberry, mint leaves, yarrow, horsetail, a string and poplar buds. A spoon of the resulting collection is required to pour a glass of boiling water. Then the container is covered and the product is allowed to infuse. The medicine should be infused for at least one hour, then it can be filtered. The resulting infusion is taken at 100 milliliters throughout the day. This medicine should be drunk every three hours.
Very often, for the treatment of vasculitis, people use thick-leaved incense. This tool is great for cleansing the blood. So, directly for the preparation of the medicine, it is necessary to pour two tablespoons of frankincense in a thermos. Then they are poured with a glass of boiling water. The composition is required to be insisted overnight. Once it is infused, you can strain. Then you need to add a spoonful of honey. The resulting medicine is drunk in the morning on an empty stomach.
Often, bitter herbs are used in the treatment of vasculitis. In particular, they are in demand in order to cleanse the intestines, which is a prerequisite for the treatment of vasculitis. To prepare the medicinal composition, you will need two tablespoons of one of the herbs (for example, wormwood, elecampane, tansy or immortelle will do). So, the selected bitter grass is poured into a thermos, then it is poured with a liter of boiling water, after which it is insisted for two hours. Once the remedy is infused, it can be filtered. Drink the resulting infusion should only be cooled. It can be bred with warm water in a proportion of one to one. Take this medicine twice a day for half an hour before eating.
No less popular in the treatment of vasculitis is green tea, which perfectly strengthens blood vessels and also helps to reduce the permeability of the vascular walls. Green tea effectively reduces the amount of bad cholesterol in the blood, improving the overall tone of the heart muscle. To achieve a therapeutic effect, people need to drink green tea in a strong form up to three times a day. In this case, it will be enough to drink just a glass. The greatest effectiveness can be achieved if you take green tea in combination with other folk methods.
The prognosis for vasculitis is most often favorable.
Even if the pathology is quite neglected, it is still treated. The functions of internal organs will be restored. But do not underestimate vasculitis. They relate to severe pathologies. The result of ineffective treatment or its complete absence can be the death of the patient.
Prophylaxis
Prevention of vasculitis is required for people not only to prevent the occurrence of this disease, but also for medicinal purposes, which helps to accelerate the healing process, minimizing the development of certain complications. So, preventive measures, as a rule, include the following recommendations:
- It is imperative to avoid all kinds of stressful situations. Any stresses along with emotional overstrain negatively affect the state of the nervous system and the whole organism as a whole, provoking various serious diseases, including vasculitis.
- In no case should you use certain medications without first consulting a doctor.
- All kinds of pathologies should not be allowed to drift. This is necessary so that they can not go into the chronic stage, especially of an infectious nature.
- It is very important that a person completely abandons any bad habits, whether smoking or drinking alcohol. Scientists have repeatedly proved the harmful effects of smoking on blood vessels. Thus, such bad habits are very likely to provoke a disease such as vasculitis.
- It is equally important to try to maintain a normal body weight. In this regard, it should be noted that obesity along with insufficient weight lead to the appearance of various pathologies, including vasculitis.
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- Continuing the recommendations regarding proper nutrition, it is worth mentioning that you should only eat foods that are enriched with vitamins and minerals.
Conclusion
Thus, vasculitis is a disease that is an inflammatory lesion of the walls of the blood vessels. This pathology occurs in people as a result of a particular infection. In addition, it can be triggered by autoimmune diseases. Often due to the presence of vascular hypersensitivity. Various vessels, as a rule, are involved in inflammatory processes, for example, it can be capillaries along with medium and large muscle arteries. In order not to get sick with vasculitis, first of all, you should eat right, just move and treat all kinds of infectious pathologies in a timely manner.
We examined the external manifestations of vasculitis. What kind of disease it is is now clear.