When your immune system turns against your own blood vessels, you get autoimmune vasculitis, a group of disorders where inflammation damages small to medium-sized blood vessels, restricting blood flow to organs and tissues. Also known as vasculitis, it can strike anywhere—from your skin to your kidneys—and often shows up with unexplained rashes, fatigue, or nerve pain. This isn’t just one disease. It’s a cluster of conditions like granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis, and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis—all sharing the same root problem: your body’s defenses go rogue.
What triggers this? In many cases, it’s not clear. But we do know that immunosuppressants, medications that calm overactive immune responses are often the main tool doctors use to stop the damage. Drugs like cyclophosphamide, rituximab, and prednisone don’t cure vasculitis—they pause the attack. But here’s the catch: these same drugs can cause side effects that mimic or worsen symptoms. For example, long-term steroid use can lead to moon face, a visible swelling caused by fluid retention and fat redistribution, which patients often mistake for the disease flaring up. Meanwhile, some people with vasculitis also have overlapping conditions like celiac disease, an autoimmune reaction to gluten that damages the gut lining, making treatment even more complex.
Autoimmune vasculitis doesn’t happen in isolation. It’s tied to how your body handles inflammation, how drugs interact with your immune system, and even what other conditions you carry. That’s why the posts below cover everything from how steroids affect your body to how generic drugs and supplements might interfere with your treatment. You’ll find real-world advice on spotting early signs, managing side effects like nerve damage or kidney stress, and understanding why some meds work for one person but not another. No fluff. Just what you need to know to talk to your doctor, track your symptoms, and stay ahead of complications.
Vasculitis is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks blood vessels, causing inflammation and reduced blood flow. Learn the types, symptoms, diagnostic tests, and modern treatments-including steroid-sparing drugs like avacopan-that can prevent organ damage.