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Urticarial Vasculitis

Urticarial Vasculitis



Overview

Urticarial vasculitis is a rare form of vasculitis that causes itchy, painful hives on your skin.

Vasculitis is any inflammation (swelling) that affects your blood vessels. Blood vessels are channels that carry blood throughout your body. They form a circuit that begins and ends at your heart. If you have vasculitis, your blood vessels swell and stretch. This makes it harder for blood to flow through them.

Urticaria is the medical term for hives. Hives are raised red or discolored bumps (welts) on your skin. A healthcare provider might refer to hives as skin lesions.

Urticarial vasculitis usually affects your skin, but it can also affect blood vessels connected to other areas of your body, including your:

Joints.

Heart.

Kidneys.

Eyes.

Lungs.

Depending on which symptoms you’re experiencing — and how severe they are — most people with urticarial vasculitis can manage their symptoms with medication.

Visit a healthcare provider if you have hives on your skin that don’t go away or get better in a few days.

Urticarial vasculitis that affects your internal organs can cause life-threatening symptoms. Go to the emergency room or call 911 (or your local emergency number) if you have any of the following symptoms:

Trouble breathing.

Heart attack.

Vision loss.

Symptoms

Most people with urticarial vasculitis experience periods of symptoms that come and go, called episodes.

Hives on your skin is the most common symptom of urticarial vasculitis. You can develop hives anywhere on your skin during an urticarial vasculitis episode. The hives are usually:

Swollen, raised bumps you can see and feel.

Itchy.

Painful.

Red or discolored.

Severe symptoms of urticarial vasculitis are rare, but include:

Fatigue.

Joint pain.

Abdominal pain.

Lymphedema (swollen lymph nodes).

Red eye.

Fever.

Shortness of breath.

Kidney pain.

During an episode of symptoms, you might experience angioedema (swelling in tissue under your skin). After an episode goes away (subsides), the skin where the hives were might look bruised or discolored.

Causes

Experts aren’t sure what causes urticarial vasculitis.

Vasculitis is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are the result of your immune system accidentally attacking your body instead of protecting it.

Urticarial vasculitis can sometimes develop after a heath condition causes inflammation in your body. This is called a trigger. Some people develop urticarial vasculitis with no cause or trigger (developing it idiopathically).

Some triggers of urticarial vasculitis include:

Infections.

Other autoimmune diseases.

As a side effect of some drugs and medications.

Some types of cancer.

Autoimmune diseases that trigger urticarial vasculitis

Any autoimmune disease can trigger urticarial vasculitis, especially:

Rheumatoid arthritis.

Lupus.

Sjögren’s syndrome.

Hypothyroidism.

Infections that trigger urticarial vasculitis

Some infections that trigger urticarial vasculitis include:

Hepatitis B.

Hepatitis C.

Mononucleosis (mono).

COVID-19.

Lyme disease.

Urticarial vasculitis risk factors

Anyone can develop urticarial vasculitis. It’s more common in adults older than 30.

Women are more than twice as likely to develop urticarial vasculitis as men.

Diagnosis 

A healthcare provider will diagnose urticarial vasculitis. They’ll look at your skin and ask you about any symptoms you’re experiencing.

Diagnosing urticarial vasculitis is usually part of a differential diagnosis for other conditions. This means your provider will probably use a few tests to determine what’s causing your symptoms before diagnosing you with urticarial vasculitis. Some tests you might need include:

Skin biopsy of the hives.

Blood tests.

Tests that check the function of your affected organs.

You’ll probably need to see a rheumatologist — a healthcare provider who specializes in treating inflammatory diseases.

Your provider might suggest you visit a pulmonologist (a specialist who treats your respiratory system) if you’re having symptoms that affect your breathing.

Treatment

Your provider will suggest treatments that manage the urticarial vasculitis symptoms you’re experiencing. Medications that reduce swelling can help relieve hives and inflammation. You might need:

Over-the-counter NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) like ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen.

Corticosteroids.

Antihistamines.

ACE inhibitors.

Immunosuppressants.

Your provider will work with you to find a treatment that manages your symptoms. Many people with urticarial vasculitis have other health conditions at the same time. Which other conditions you have can affect which treatments will work for you. Tell your provider about any other health conditions you have and which other medications or treatments you’re currently using.

Ask your provider about any side effects of the medications they recommend to treat urticarial vasculitis. They’ll tell you what to expect and which signs of complications to watch for.

Type of Doctor Department : A rheumatologist , A dermatologist

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