Definition: Vasculitis is an inflammation of the blood vessel system, which includes the veins, arteries, and capillaries. Vasculitis may affect blood vessels of any type, size, or location, and therefore can cause dysfunction in any organ system, including the central and peripheral nervous systems. The symptoms of vasculitis depend on which blood vessels are involved and what organs in the body are affected. The disorder may occur alone or with other disorders such as temporal arteritis. Temporal arteritis (also called cranial or giant cell arteritis) is an inflammation of the temporal artery (which runs over the temple, beside the eye). Symptoms of this disorder may include stiffness, muscle pain, fever, severe headaches, pain when chewing, and tenderness in the temple area. Other symptoms may include anemia, fatigue, weight loss, shaking, vision loss, and sweats.
Pronunciation: vas"ku-li'tis
Also Known As: Angiitis
Alternate Spellings: Angitis
Common Misspellings: vascullitis
Examples:
Joe complained of fatigue due to his vaculitis.
