Allergic and toxic vasculitis are pathological conditions that relate to varieties of systemic manifestations. The basis of this pathology is generalized damage to the walls of blood vessels with foci of inflammatory and necrotic nature. As a result, normal blood circulation in the tissues of the human body supplied to them is disrupted.
Seeing such a diagnosis in the history of the disease as allergic vasculitis, many people do not even understand what is at stake. The disease refers to a subspecies of the primary systemic response, which is associated with increased reactivity of the immune system in response to contact with allergic and other toxic factors.
Features
Not everyone knows that vasculitis is a pathological condition that is characterized by pronounced external changes in the structure of the skin, mainly of an inflammatory nature. A distinctive feature of the disease is that such patients suffer from allergic diseases or are hypersensitive to certain substances.
The presence of a hereditary factor is also taken into account. This type of disease is characterized by a symmetrical lesion of the skin in the form of rashes of a hemorrhagic nature, to a greater extent in areas around large joints.
Toxic-allergic vasculitis
It is a consequence of ingestion of toxic substances in the body or external influences. For example, various industries, contact with household or industrial poisons and other chemical components.
The toxic-allergic type of vasculitis is characterized by damage not only to the surface areas of the dermis, but also to the mucous membranes. For example, by inhalation of chemical fumes or by ingestion.
Infectious Allergic Vasculitis
As a rule, it develops against the background of a previous illness. This type of pathology is considered to be a specific complication. Another feature of pathology is considered to be a complex lesion of not only the skin, but also of the mucous membranes, internal organs, and articular bags can be involved in the pathological process.
Etiological factors for the development of the disease
Varieties of allergic vasculitis can be triggered by a wide variety of etiological factors, but the basis of all these pathologies is the mechanism of a systemic immune response.
Expressed in a simple and understandable language, a person’s immune system with an allergic history is prone to hypersensitivity to common factors that affect the body.
A distinctive feature of vasculitis from dermatitis is the nature of skin rashes. Since the pathogenetic basis of the former is damage to the vascular wall, rashes take on a predominantly hemorrhagic character.
The main causes of allergic vasculitis include:
- hypersensitivity to food, pollen and other natural components;
- contact with chemicals obtained by domestic or industrial means;
- contact with patients with infectious diseases, especially from the group of streptococcus or staphylococcus.
- frequent recurrence of external manifestations of herpes infection in the form of labial herpes.
Symptomatic signs of allergic vasculitis
The most important symptoms of vasculitis are local manifestations. Changes on the skin are immediately visible to the naked eye. They appear after a person contacts an allergenic component.
The main external symptoms of allergic vasculitis include the following:
- redness of the damaged area of the dermis with the accompanying sensation of unbearable burning sensation;
- rashes can take the form of bubbles filled with red liquid (streaks of red and even purple may appear);
- as a result of impaired trophism, an area of ischemia and even necrosis is formed in the affected tissues, which is externally manifested by the formation of ulcers, which are prone to difficult healing;
- since a pronounced inflammatory process is progressing in the tissues, such symptoms of allergic vasculitis as an increase in body temperature may occur, while the patient feels a pronounced general weakness.
As the disease progresses, the joints and internal organs can be involved in the pathological process, since the peculiarity of the pathology is the defeat of blood vessels, which can take part in their blood supply.
Complications
Complicated allergic vasculitis manifests itself in the form of the following symptomatic signs:
- a sharp decrease in appetite, lethargy, fatigue and general weakness;
- pain in the abdomen, sometimes a small amount of fresh blood in the feces can be detected in children;
- soreness and swelling in the joints, mainly large;
- cardialgia, attacks of anginal pain as with coronary heart disease.
Symptoms may be different, it all depends on where the main lesion is located. If the vascular plexuses that are localized in the brain have been damaged, pronounced neurological symptoms will be visible.
The defeat of the central nervous system is characterized by confusion, sometimes coma, twitching or, conversely, lethargy of a limb. Other typical symptoms are possible.
Key events for making a final diagnosis
Like all systemic vasculitis, this pathology requires a number of diagnostic measures to confirm the diagnosis and resolve the issue of further treatment tactics.
The most important in the diagnosis of allergic vasculitis is the conduct of general laboratory tests. Along with this, measures are being taken to identify specific complications:
- General blood and urine tests are necessary to identify the inflammatory process both in the systemic circulation and in the urinary system. In the blood, an increase in the level of leukocytes and erythrocyte sedimentation rate will be detected - these are specific markers of inflammation, an increase in the level of eosinophils will suggest an allergic origin. In the urine, white blood cells and an increased level of protein can be detected, the color can be changed to a more cloudy one.
- A biochemical blood test shows how active the liver, kidneys, and pancreas are. This method of research is considered one of the most important, since with allergic vasculitis, these organs can be affected in the first place.
- A specific laboratory study is the immunological method, with allergic vasculitis in the blood serum, the amount of IgE will increase.
- Angiography is an instrumental method of research necessary for a visual assessment of the state of arterial vessels, which can accurately determine the extent and location of allergic vasculitis in adults and children.
- X-ray methods are optional. They are carried out in order to identify concomitant pathology, which could worsen against the background of a relapse of allergic vasculitis.
A very common problem in patients with this disease is a heart complication, which can be multiple in nature. Timely diagnosis is carried out using electrocardiography, which is one of the standard diagnostic procedures for any pathology.
Conducting therapeutic measures for adults and children
As already described above, the main role in the pathogenesis of the development of allergic systemic vasculitis is assigned to the increased activity of the body's immune response to ordinary stimuli.
Immunosuppressants
Today, among doctors, the prescription of drugs acting on the immune system is depressing. In view of modern advances in the medical field, it has been proven that prolonged use of immunosuppressants has an adverse effect on the healing of inflammatory changes in the human body.
Given the possibility of using immunosuppressive therapy during periods of disease remission, it can have a beneficial effect. The interictal period is increasing, but on the other hand, the risk of infectious diseases is increasing.
Despite all the disadvantages and advantages of therapy, this method is still actively used in medical practice, but with special care and periodic monitoring of the patient's condition. Children and adolescents are not recommended to use this treatment tactic, since the immune system in this category of the population has not yet been fully formed. And interference in its development may adversely affect the future.
Glucocorticosteroids
Mandatory drugs for the symptoms of allergic vasculitis is the use of systemic glucocorticosteroids. The most widely used are Prednisone and Dexamethasone.
Steroid hormones can be applied topically, orally, parenterally and even by inhalation, it all depends on where the main lesion is located and what is the purpose of the treatment.
Parenteral administration of glucocorticosteroids is carried out only in the conditions of a specialized therapeutic hospital, since constant monitoring of the human condition is necessary. These drugs are allowed to be used in pediatrics, they do not pose a particular danger.
Antibiotics
If the disease was provoked by a bacterial infection, or if it developed against the background of a pronounced allergic reaction, antibacterial drugs should be taken.
Antibiotics can be prescribed both orally and parenterally. They are able to destroy the pathogen and at the same time prevent the development of septic shock.
Antibacterial components can act as a complex component in various ointments and solutions for external use. Thus, there is a local antiseptic, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial effect.
In pediatrics, antibiotics are not prohibited, but the dosage should be selected strictly based on 1 kilogram of the total weight. And with them, diet food and probiotics are prescribed. The antibacterial group is selected depending on the type and sensitivity of microorganisms, bacterial cultures from the skin are used to determine.
Additionally
A restorative therapy in the form of a constant intake of vitamin preparations is necessary for the symptoms of allergic vasculitis, since with prolonged healing of wounds, the human body needs to replenish the energy balance.
As a topical use of drugs, antiseptic solutions for treating the surface elements of a rash, wound healing and complex drugs can be used.
Conclusion
Few people understand that vasculitis is a disease that belongs to the category of chronic skin pathologies with periodic recurrence of the inflammatory process.
It is almost impossible to completely recover from this pathology, but it is possible to completely eliminate the factors leading to relapse.
The timely treatment of allergic vasculitis is very important in order to avoid the development of specific complications that can result in death or severe disability.
In addition, it must be remembered that self-administration of drugs is strictly prohibited, since only a specialist, based on the results of tests and examinations, has the right to prescribe appropriate therapy.
Many people ask: "How to treat allergic vasculitis in children?" The approach to treatment is almost the same in both adults and children, only dosages can vary.