Vasculitis
Vasculitis refers to a group of conditions in which inflammation affects blood vessels. Depending on the type and the size and location of vessels involved, vasculitis may cause symptoms affecting the skin, kidneys, lungs, nerves, joints, or other organs.
Because vasculitis encompasses many distinct conditions — ranging from disease limited to the skin to serious multi-organ involvement — presentation and severity vary considerably between patients.
At National Path Lab (NPL), laboratory investigations support the evaluation of suspected vasculitis and help assess the extent of organ involvement, guiding your doctor toward the correct diagnosis and monitoring plan.
About Vasculitis
Causes & Risk Factors
Vasculitis can be primary (arising on its own) or secondary (triggered by another underlying condition), and different subtypes have different associated risk factors.
• Infections — certain bacterial and viral infections can trigger vasculitis, particularly in genetically susceptible individuals.
• Other autoimmune diseases — vasculitis can occur secondary to conditions such as SLE or rheumatoid arthritis.
• Certain medications — some drugs have been associated with triggering drug-induced vasculitis.
• Genetic factors — family history and certain genetic markers may increase susceptibility to specific vasculitis subtypes.
• Age — different vasculitis subtypes tend to affect different age groups; some are more common in children, others predominantly in older adults.
Symptoms & When to Test
Symptoms of vasculitis can vary considerably depending on which blood vessels and organs are affected.
• Unexplained fever
• Fatigue
• Skin rashes, including palpable purpura (raised, purple spots)
• Joint or muscle pain
• Numbness or weakness (suggestive of nerve involvement)
• Blood or protein in urine (suggestive of kidney involvement)
• Breathing difficulties
• Sinus or respiratory symptoms, including chronic sinusitis or nosebleeds
When Should You Consider Testing?
Testing is generally appropriate when unexplained systemic symptoms (fever, fatigue, rash) occur together with organ-specific signs such as blood in the urine, breathing difficulty, or new numbness or weakness — combinations that suggest inflammation beyond a single, localized cause.
Why Tests Are Combined
ANCA testing is central to evaluating several vasculitis subtypes, but a negative ANCA does not exclude vasculitis, since not all forms are ANCA-associated.
CRP and ESR indicate the presence and degree of systemic inflammation but do not identify vasculitis specifically, which is why they are used alongside — not instead of — ANCA and complement testing.
Because vasculitis can affect the kidneys, lungs, and other organs, additional investigations (CBC, creatinine/eGFR, urinalysis, urine protein, liver function tests) are often included to assess the extent of organ involvement, guided by the patient's specific symptoms.
Tests Available at NPL
Test Code | Test | Clinical Relevance |
I0006
| ANCA (ANTINEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODIES), IFA | Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies can support the evaluation of selected ANCA-associated vasculitides. |
B0039
| C3 COMPLEMENT | Complement testing can provide useful information in selected immune-mediated and vasculitic conditions. |
B0040
| C4 COMPLEMENT | Complement testing can provide useful information in selected immune-mediated and vasculitic conditions. |
B0021
| C-REACTIVE PROTEIN (CRP) QUANTITATIVE, | Commonly used to assess systemic inflammation and monitor disease activity over time. |
H0017
| ERYTHROCYTE SEDIMENTATION RATE; ESR | Commonly used to assess systemic inflammation and monitor disease activity over time. |
Additional Investigations (Based on Organ Involvement)
→ CBC (Complete Blood Count)
→ Creatinine / eGFR
→ Urinalysis
→ Urine protein assessment
→ Liver Function Tests
→ Other autoimmune tests, based on clinical suspicion
Most autoimmune antibody tests and inflammatory markers do not require fasting. However, if your doctor has ordered other tests at the same time — such as glucose or lipid testing — fasting may be required for those investigations. Please follow the preparation instructions provided by your doctor or NPL.
Home Sample Collection
NPL offers convenient home sample collection for all Vasculitis tests, so you don't need to visit a lab in person.
→ Book your test online, via the NPL app, or by calling +977 1 5970147 and select a convenient time slot for home sample collection.
→ A certified and experienced NPL phlebotomist visits your home at the scheduled time, following strict hygiene and safety protocols.
→ Your sample is transported under controlled, monitored conditions to NPL's NABL ACCREDITED UNDER ISO 15189:2022 laboratory for processing.
→ Your digital report is delivered securely to your phone or email, along with access to download and share it as needed.
When to See a Doctor
• Unexplained fever with skin rash or joint pain
• New numbness, weakness, or tingling
• Blood or protein noticed in urine
• Breathing difficulty or unexplained cough
• Chronic sinus symptoms or recurrent nosebleeds with systemic symptoms
• Skin rash with palpable, raised purple spots (palpable purpura)
Medical Disclaimer Laboratory tests are supportive tools and should not be used alone to diagnose or exclude vasculitis. Results should be interpreted by a qualified healthcare professional together with clinical history, examination, and organ-specific investigations as needed. |