Do you also have these symptoms with rheumatoid arthritis? Let's talk about rheumatoid vasculitis!

Hello! How are you? Sometimes we can have another disease with one disease, right? So, if you already have Rheumatoid Arthritis, today we are going to talk about another condition that can occur with it. This is called Rheumatoid Vasculitis. Although the name may sound a little scary, let's understand it simply.

What is Rheumatoid Vasculitis?

Simply put, rheumatoid vasculitis is inflammation of your blood vessels. This is caused by your rheumatoid arthritis condition. Now, vasculitis is the swelling of the blood vessels in our body, the small tubes that carry blood. These blood vessels carry blood throughout our body, like water pipes. Rheumatoid arthritis is a type of arthritis that affects your joints. What happens in this is that your own immune system attacks the tissues in your joints. Rheumatoid vasculitis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other types of vasculitis are all autoimmune diseases . That means that the immune system, which is supposed to protect our bodies, mistakenly starts attacking our own bodies. Imagine, it's like the army, which is supposed to protect our country, is attacking us.

How common is this situation?

In fact, this condition called rheumatoid vasculitis is very rare. That is, even in a large population, there are very few people who develop it. For example, in a country like America, less than 50 out of every million people have it. People over the age of 50 are slightly more likely to develop it. But even in that age group, it is not that common. According to experts, it affects less than 300 out of every million people in that age group. But in the past, this condition called rheumatoid vasculitis was much more common. But now, because good, effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis have been developed, the number of reports of this condition has decreased a lot.

What are the symptoms?

People with rheumatoid vasculitis can show a variety of symptoms. Let's take a look at what they are.

Commonly seen symptoms

These are some of the most common symptoms:

• Ulcers on your skin, especially on or near your fingertips. These can be painful sores that take a long time to heal.
• Skin rashes or blisters.
• Skin discoloration, bruising.
• Feeling pain in the hands, fingers, legs, and toes.
• Numbness or tingling sensation in the hands and feet.
• Feeling of weakness in the muscles.

Symptoms that may occur in severe cases

Sometimes, if the disease becomes more severe, other symptoms may also appear, such as:

• Abdominal pain.
• Cough.
• Food is tasteless .
• Weight loss .
• Chest pain .
• Fever.
• Constant feeling of extreme tiredness ( Fatigue ).

Why does rheumatoid vasculitis occur?

As we've talked about before, this is an autoimmune disease. That is, your own immune system attacks your blood vessels. If you have had severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for a long time (usually more than 10 years), your immune system may start to damage your blood vessels, especially those in your hands and feet. The affected blood vessels then swell and thicken. This makes it difficult for blood to flow through them. Over time, this inflammation can damage the blood vessels themselves, as well as the skin around them.

What are the risk factors? Who is most likely to develop it?

Although anyone with rheumatoid arthritis can develop rheumatoid vasculitis, some people are at a slightly higher risk. Let's take a look at who they are:

• People with severe rheumatoid arthritis (Severe RA) .
• People who have arthritis in multiple joints in the body (Polyarthritis).
• People who have had rheumatoid arthritis for a long time, meaning 10 years or more .
• People with a condition called Felty syndrome. This is a complication of rheumatoid arthritis. It is characterized by an enlarged spleen and a low white blood cell count.
• People with rheumatoid nodules . These are lumps that form under the skin near joints in rheumatoid arthritis.
• People who smoke or use other tobacco products. This is a risk factor for many diseases.

What complications can this cause?

This condition, rheumatoid vasculitis , can lead to serious complications if not properly diagnosed and treated. These are very rare, but it's important to be aware of them.

• Death of skin tissue around affected blood vessels (necrosis).
• Heart attacks.
• Strokes.

How do you diagnose this?

A doctor will diagnose rheumatoid vasculitis by doing a physical exam and doing some tests. He or she will ask you about your symptoms, such as when you first noticed them. You will also need to tell your doctor how long you have had rheumatoid arthritis and what you are doing to treat it. Your doctor may do some tests to diagnose the condition, such as:

• Blood tests.
• X-rays.
• CT scans (Computed Tomography scans)
• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) tests.
• Angiograms - This checks the condition of the blood vessels.
• Electromyography (EMG) - This measures the activity of muscles and nerves.
• Biopsies - Sometimes a small sample of affected tissue is taken and tested.

You will most likely need to see a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in treating inflammatory conditions.

How is it treated?

Your doctor will recommend treatments to control your symptoms. He or she will help you find treatments that will prevent damage to your blood vessels and internal organs. In many cases, controlling your rheumatoid arthritis symptoms will also help treat your rheumatoid vasculitis. Talk to your doctor about the medications you are currently taking for your rheumatoid arthritis and whether you need to change them. If you need specific treatment for your rheumatoid vasculitis, your doctor may recommend medications such as:

• Corticosteroids - These are powerful medications that reduce inflammation.
• Immunosuppressants or biologics - These control the activity of the immune system.
• ACE inhibitors - These are a type of medication that is given to control blood pressure and help blood vessels.

Quitting smoking (and using other tobacco products) can reduce the severity of rheumatoid vasculitis. It may even help prevent the condition from developing in the first place. Talk to your doctor about ways to quit smoking. He or she can help you do so safely and effectively.

Can this be prevented?

In fact, rheumatoid vasculitis cannot be prevented. This is because the condition that causes it in the first place, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), cannot be prevented. There is no way to tell exactly who will develop it or when. However, if you have rheumatoid arthritis, managing it well can reduce your risk of developing vasculitis. If you smoke, quitting may also reduce your risk of rheumatoid vasculitis.

What should you expect when living with this condition?

You have this condition called rheumatoid vasculitis.You should expect to have long-term management, possibly lifelong. Even if you don't have severe symptoms, you should see your doctor regularly to monitor changes in your blood vessels. Ask your doctor how often you should see your doctor and what tests you should have.

How do you take care of yourself?

Keep track of your symptoms. Note any changes you notice. Follow the treatment plan you and your doctor have developed. Don't delay in seeing your doctor if you feel like a treatment isn't working (or isn't as effective as it used to be).

When should I see a doctor?

If you develop new symptoms, or if your symptoms seem to be getting worse, see your doctor right away. Your doctor will tell you how often you need routine checkups, tests, or additional screenings.

What questions should you ask your doctor?

It may be helpful to ask your doctor questions like these:

• Which blood vessels in my body are affected?
• What tests do I need to do?
• What kind of treatment do I need?
• Will my rheumatoid arthritis treatment need to be changed?

Finally, some important take-home messages for you.

It can be hard to know that, in addition to the pain in your joints, you now have inflammation in your blood vessels, which is a condition that you have been managing for years. It's understandable. But don't worry. Your doctor will help you develop a treatment plan for your rheumatoid arthritis, including any new medications you need. He or she will also tell you what to watch out for and how to avoid complications. Listen to your body and trust your instincts. The best way to avoid complications is to see your doctor on time. Never be afraid to talk to your doctor about any new or changing symptoms you may be experiencing. Remember, you are not alone.