Arteritis is characterized by inflammation in the walls of arteries. It is caused by damage to blood vessels which reduces blood flow to the organs. It occurs either due to infection or autoimmune response. Major types of arteritis include:
- Takayasu arteritis: It is an inflammatory disease effects mainly on large vessels such as aorta and its branches. Most commonly this disease is seen in females.
- Giant cell arteritis: It is also called as temporal arteritis. It causes inflammation to blood vessels that carry oxygen from heart to rest of the body.
In addition, Polyarteritis Nodosa is seen in infants. It affects medium-sized vessels of kidney, skeletal muscle and blood vessels of nervous system. Arteritis symptoms include fever, reduced pulse, headaches, jaw pain, vision loss, inflammation, polycythaemia. The disease is diagnosed by biopsy. Prednisone, a corticosteroid drug is used in the treatment of arteritis. Cytotoxic agents like azathioprine, methotrexate or cyclophosphamide are also used in the treatment of arteritis. The complication of arteritis is thrombosis.
