Giant Cell Arteritis
Inflammation of the large arteries of the head and neck, causing new headache, scalp tenderness and jaw pain, with a risk of sudden vision loss.
Is this what you are experiencing?
Vasculitis is inflammation of blood vessels, and its symptoms depend entirely on which vessels are affected. Unexplained fever and weight loss, purple skin spots, sudden numbness or foot drop, a new headache with scalp tenderness, blood in the urine, or sinus and lung symptoms that keep returning are the presentations that need urgent specialist assessment.
What symptoms should prompt an assessment?
You do not need to have every symptom below — and having one does not mean you have a particular disease. These are the patterns that commonly lead to a rheumatology consultation:
- Unexplained fever, fatigue, weight loss or body aches with raised inflammatory markers.
- Red or purple skin spots, recurrent rashes, painful ulcers or non-healing skin lesions.
- Numbness, tingling, burning pain, focal weakness, foot drop or wrist drop.
- A new persistent headache, scalp tenderness, jaw pain while chewing or new visual symptoms.
- Repeated sinus symptoms, nose bleeding, ear symptoms, cough, breathlessness or coughing blood.
- Blood or protein in urine, swelling, reduced kidney function or new blood-pressure concerns.
- Arm or leg fatigue or pain with activity, weak pulses or unequal blood pressure between limbs.
- Repeated mouth or genital ulcers, eye inflammation or symptoms affecting several organs.
Which conditions does this cover?
ANCA-associated Vasculitis — GPA, MPA and EGPA
A group of small-vessel vasculitides that can involve the sinuses, lungs, kidneys and nerves, and require prompt immunosuppressive treatment.
Takayasu Arteritis
Inflammation of the aorta and its major branches, causing limb pain with activity, weak pulses and unequal blood pressure between arms.
Medium Vessel Vasculitis — Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN)
Inflammation of medium-sized arteries that may cause skin ulcers, nerve symptoms, abdominal pain or hypertension.
Read about Medium Vessel Vasculitis — Polyarteritis Nodosa (PAN)
Small Vessel / Cutaneous Vasculitis
Vasculitis limited mainly to the skin, appearing as red-purple spots or rashes, usually on the legs.
IgA Vasculitis
A small-vessel vasculitis, more common after infections, producing a purpuric rash with joint pain, abdominal symptoms or kidney involvement.
Cryoglobulinemic Vasculitis
Vasculitis caused by abnormal blood proteins that clump in the cold, affecting skin, nerves and kidneys.
Urticarial Vasculitis
A condition producing hive-like patches that last longer than ordinary hives and may burn rather than itch.
Behcet's Disease
A systemic condition characterised by recurrent mouth and genital ulcers, eye inflammation, skin lesions and sometimes vascular involvement.
How is it diagnosed and treated?
Dr. Ashish Baweja combines a detailed clinical assessment with targeted investigations — blood tests and inflammatory markers, imaging, and where relevant procedures such as joint aspiration, nail fold capillaroscopy or biopsy — to reach an accurate diagnosis. Treatment plans follow current international (EULAR/ACR) guidelines and are personalised to your condition, lifestyle and goals, with an emphasis on achieving long-term remission and protecting quality of life.
This page is general information to help guide a consultation. It is not a diagnosis.
Book your consultation
Consult Dr. Ashish Baweja at the Institute of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology, Medanta – The Medicity, Gurugram.