Symptoms of vasculitis
Disease description:
The lower limbs are always feeling cold and painful, and there is also intermittent claudication while walking. I suspect it might be vasculitis and would like to know specifically what other symptoms are associated with vasculitis. Do my symptoms fit?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Bai Hongmei
The main symptoms of vasculitis include pain, skin changes, sensory abnormalities, and tissue necrosis.
Vasculitis, officially known as thromboangiitis obliterans, is a chronic, segmental inflammatory disease primarily affecting the small and medium-sized arteries and veins of the limbs. Patients may experience coldness and numbness in the extremities, such as the toes or fingers, and sometimes intermittent claudication—leg pain that occurs after walking for a period and is relieved by rest. As the condition progresses, patients may develop persistent resting pain, particularly noticeable at night.
Due to arterial ischemia, the skin of the affected limb may appear pale, cyanotic, or dark purple, especially when the limb is dependent. The affected limb may feel cool and sensitive to cold, accompanied by abnormal sensations such as pain, tingling, numbness, or a burning feeling. As the disease progresses, manifestations of trophic disturbances, such as dry and scaly skin, hair loss, and muscle atrophy, may appear in the affected limb. In severe cases, vasculitis can lead to gangrene and ulcers at the fingertips or toes, potentially spreading to the entire hand or foot.
