How is vasculitis diagnosed?

How is vasculitis diagnosed?

The diagnosis of vasculitis, including CNS vasculitis, is based on a person's medical history, symptoms, a complete physical examination and the results of special laboratory tests. Blood abnormalities that are found in vasculitis include:

• Anemia (a shortage of red blood cells).
• A high white blood cell count.
• A high platelet (which allows blood to clot) count.
• Kidney or liver problems.
• Elevation of inflammatory markers.
• Special markers in the blood that can be present in certain types of vasculitis.

(In PACNS, when the vasculitis is only confined to the brain or spinal cord, the above symptoms and signs are often lacking and people see the symptoms of CNS vasculitis only.)

Other tests may include X-rays, tissue biopsies (taking a sample of tissue to study under a microscope) and blood vessel scans. A provider might also want to examine the spinal fluid to see what is causing the inflammation, through a procedure called lumbar puncture or spinal tap. This test is often performed in CNS vasculitis.

Other essential test include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computer tomography (CT) or angiogram of the brain. An angiogram can show which blood vessels are narrowed.

Because other conditions can cause some of the same brain vessel abnormalities as CNS vasculitis, a brain biopsy is the only way to make certain of a diagnosis. A brain biopsy can distinguish between CNS vasculitis and other diseases that may have similar features.