BLOOD VESSEL INFLAMMATION

Vasculitis diagnosis & treatment in Bhubaneswar

Vasculitis is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system causes inflammation of the blood vessels, which can thicken, narrow or weaken them and reduce blood flow to organs.

Medically reviewed by Dr. Jyoti Ranjan Parida, MD, DM (Rheumatology)Updated July 2026
OVERVIEW

What is vasculitis?
an autoimmune blood-vessel disease

Vasculitis is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system causes inflammation of the blood vessels.

  • Inflammation can lead to thickening, narrowing or weakening of the vessels.
  • Reduced blood flow from affected vessels can damage organs and tissues.
  • Vasculitis can affect any size of blood vessel – small, medium or large.
  • It can involve various organs depending on the type of vasculitis.
  • Early diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent serious complications.
Illustration of inflamed, narrowed blood vessels caused by vasculitis
Illustration: how vasculitis inflames and narrows blood vessels.
SYMPTOMS

Signs & symptoms
what vasculitis feels like

  • General: fever, fatigue, weight loss and malaise.
  • Skin: rashes, purpura (purple spots), ulcers or bruising.
  • Muscle & joint: pain, swelling or weakness.
  • Neurological: numbness, tingling or weakness if nerves are affected.
  • Kidneys: blood in urine, reduced kidney function.
  • Lungs: shortness of breath, coughing or chest pain.
  • Heart: chest pain, palpitations.
  • Eyes: vision changes, redness or pain.

Symptoms vary depending on the size of blood vessels and the organs involved.

Video thumbnail: OARC Bhubaneswar explains vasculitis

Watch: understanding vasculitis (opens YouTube)

Unexplained fever, rashes or numbness alongside fatigue? See a rheumatologist early — early diagnosis and treatment of vasculitis prevent serious organ damage.

Book Appointment
CAUSES

What causes
vasculitis?

  • Autoimmune dysfunction: the immune system mistakenly attacks blood vessel walls.
  • Genetic predisposition: a family history of autoimmune diseases can increase risk.
  • Infections: certain viral or bacterial infections may trigger vasculitis in susceptible individuals.
  • Medications: some drugs can provoke immune-mediated inflammation of blood vessels.
  • Other autoimmune diseases: conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome can increase the likelihood of vasculitis.
  • Environmental triggers: rarely, exposure to chemicals or toxins may contribute to onset.
FAST FACTS

Vasculitis
at a glance

Any vessel
Vasculitis can affect small, medium or large blood vessels throughout the body.
Multi-organ
It can involve the skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, eyes and nerves depending on the type.
Autoimmune
Driven by immune dysfunction, with genetics, infections and medications as triggers.
Early care
Early diagnosis and treatment prevent severe organ damage and improve quality of life.

If untreated, complications can include organ damage, aneurysm, stroke, and kidney or heart failure.

Treatment includes corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and biologics, together with lifestyle care and regular monitoring.

DIAGNOSIS

How vasculitis
is diagnosed

Vasculitis is diagnosed by combining a careful clinical assessment with blood tests, imaging and, where needed, a tissue biopsy.

Medical history & examination

Doctors check for general symptoms (fever, fatigue), skin changes (rashes, bruising), joint or muscle pain, and organ-specific signs.

Blood tests: ESR, CRP & ANCA

Blood tests identify inflammation markers (ESR, CRP) and autoantibodies (such as ANCA) to detect autoimmune activity.

Imaging tests

Ultrasound, CT, MRI or PET scans are used to visualise the affected blood vessels and map how far the disease extends.

Biopsy & organ function tests

A small tissue sample from skin, kidney or another affected organ can confirm vessel inflammation, while kidney, heart, lung and neurological tests assess the extent of organ involvement.

Video thumbnail: OARC Bhubaneswar video on vasculitis diagnosis and care

Watch: more on vasculitis from OARC (opens YouTube)

TREATMENT

How vasculitis
is treated

Corticosteroids

Corticosteroids reduce inflammation quickly and help control acute symptoms at the onset of the disease.

Immunosuppressants

Medications such as methotrexate, azathioprine or cyclophosphamide help regulate the immune system and prevent further vessel damage.

Biologic therapies

Biologic drugs target specific immune pathways and are used in severe or refractory cases that do not respond to standard treatment.

Lifestyle care

A balanced diet, avoiding infections, regular exercise and stress management all help support overall health during treatment.

Regular monitoring

Ongoing follow-ups assess organ function, detect flares early and allow treatment to be adjusted as needed. Review visits with the OARC rheumatology team run Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM and 4:30–9:00 PM. Call +91 93386 53086 or book online.

How OARC Can Help?

At OARC, we offer holistic care to patients suffering from all kinds of arthritis and autoimmune diseases by our renowned rheumatologists. Because of the chronic nature of the disease, we spend time with the patient helping them to know about their disease, and demystify the myths regarding the disease and treatment. We have collaboration with an NABL accredited laboratory where all kinds of blood tests can be done at reasonable costs. We also have a patient support system which patients can approach in case of any emergency. We believe in a friendly relation with patients so that they can share all their sufferings and get the best possible treatment.

  • Best doctors to treat
  • State-of-the-art clinic
  • All facilities available under one roof
  • NABL accredited laboratory
  • Same-day test results
  • Convenient location
OUTLOOK

What happens if vasculitis
is left untreated?

If vasculitis is left untreated, the ongoing inflammation of blood vessels can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications. Reduced blood flow may damage vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs and brain, resulting in kidney failure, heart attack, stroke or aneurysms. Chronic inflammation can also cause persistent fatigue, muscle and joint pain, skin ulcers and neurological problems. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are essential to control inflammation, protect organs and prevent permanent damage or disability.

Questions to ask your doctor

  • Which type of vasculitis do I have, and which blood vessels are affected?
  • Which medicines will I need, and how quickly do they work?
  • How often will my organ function and blood tests be monitored?
  • What side effects should I watch for, and when should I call the clinic?
  • What can I do through diet, exercise and lifestyle to support my treatment?
FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions
vasculitis care in Odisha

Vasculitis is a rare autoimmune disorder in which the immune system causes inflammation of the blood vessels. This inflammation can lead to thickening, narrowing or weakening of the vessels, and the reduced blood flow can damage organs and tissues. It can affect small, medium or large vessels and involve various organs depending on the type.
General symptoms include fever, fatigue, weight loss and malaise. The skin can show rashes, purpura (purple spots), ulcers or bruising, and there may be muscle and joint pain or weakness. If nerves are affected there can be numbness, tingling or weakness. Organ-specific symptoms include blood in the urine or reduced kidney function, shortness of breath, cough or chest pain, palpitations, and vision changes, redness or eye pain. Symptoms vary depending on the size of blood vessels and the organs involved.
Vasculitis is caused by autoimmune dysfunction, where the immune system mistakenly attacks blood vessel walls. A family history of autoimmune diseases can increase risk, and certain viral or bacterial infections may trigger it in susceptible individuals. Some medications can provoke immune-mediated inflammation, and other autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or Sjögren’s syndrome can increase the likelihood of vasculitis. Rarely, exposure to chemicals or toxins may contribute to onset.
Diagnosis begins with a medical history and physical examination, checking for general symptoms, skin changes, joint or muscle pain and organ-specific signs. Blood tests identify inflammation markers (ESR, CRP) and autoantibodies such as ANCA. Imaging tests like ultrasound, CT, MRI or PET scans visualise the affected vessels, and a biopsy of skin, kidney or another affected organ may be taken to confirm vessel inflammation. Organ function tests assess the extent of involvement.
Corticosteroids reduce inflammation quickly and control acute symptoms. Immunosuppressants such as methotrexate, azathioprine or cyclophosphamide help regulate the immune system and prevent further vessel damage, while biologic therapies target specific immune pathways in severe or refractory cases. Lifestyle care — a balanced diet, avoiding infections, regular exercise and stress management — supports overall health, and regular monitoring assesses organ function, detects flares early and lets treatment be adjusted as needed.
If vasculitis is left untreated, ongoing inflammation of blood vessels can lead to serious and potentially life-threatening complications. Reduced blood flow may damage vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs and brain, resulting in kidney failure, heart attack, stroke or aneurysms. Chronic inflammation can also cause persistent fatigue, muscle and joint pain, skin ulcers and neurological problems. Early diagnosis and proper treatment are essential to control inflammation, protect organs and prevent permanent damage or disability.
YOUR SPECIALIST

Meet the rheumatologist
behind your care

Dr. Jyoti Ranjan Parida, Founder and Lead Rheumatologist at OARC Bhubaneswar
Founder & Lead Rheumatologist

Dr. Jyoti Ranjan Parida

MBBS · MD · DM (Rheumatology) · Gold Medallist · UK Fellowship

Founder & Lead Rheumatologist at OARC. Dr. Parida pioneered specialist rheumatology care in Odisha since 2014 and leads the OARC rheumatology team — with fellow rheumatologist Dr. Debashis Maikap — at our Bhubaneswar centre. Consultations run Monday to Saturday, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM and 4:30–9:00 PM.

Areas of expertise
VasculitisLupusRheumatoid ArthritisAnkylosing Spondylitis
4.7 / 5 · Over 2,000 patient reviews on JustDial & Practo
RELATED CONDITIONS

Other autoimmune diseases can overlap with or increase the likelihood of vasculitis. Our rheumatologists diagnose and treat the full range of connective-tissue and autoimmune conditions.

Lupus

An autoimmune disease that can affect the skin, joints, kidneys and other organs — sometimes alongside vasculitis.

Learn More
Rheumatoid Arthritis

An autoimmune disease inflaming the joint lining that can increase the likelihood of vasculitis.

Learn More
Sjögren’s Syndrome

An autoimmune condition affecting moisture-producing glands that can raise the likelihood of vasculitis.

Learn More
Scleroderma

A connective-tissue autoimmune disease affecting the skin and internal organs that can overlap with vasculitis.

Learn More
View All Conditions We Treat →
Medical disclaimer: This page is for general information about vasculitis and does not replace personal medical advice, diagnosis or treatment from a qualified rheumatologist. Please consult a doctor for advice about your own condition. References: American College of Rheumatology (patient education on vasculitis); Vasculitis Foundation (patient resources).

Early treatment protects your organs.

Consult Odisha’s dedicated arthritis & rheumatology centre — Mon–Sat, 9:00 AM–2:00 PM & 4:30–9:00 PM, Saheed Nagar, Bhubaneswar.

Book Appointment Call +91 93386 53086
Call Now Book Visit