Recovery & Support for Vasculitis

Some forms of vasculitis can last a short time, whereas others require life-long management. In all people diagnosed with vasculitis, treatment is most effective when it’s started early. Recovery depends on the type of vasculitis you have, if it has caused any other conditions or complications, and on the organs or tissue affected. NYU Langone rheumatologists manage your care throughout the recovery process.

Treatment with medication, plasma exchange (also called plasmapheresis), and immunotherapy aims to induce remission and can require several months to take effect. If your vasculitis is under control with medication and your symptoms subside, your doctor may slowly take you off the medication, with the goal of stopping treatment when vasculitis enters remission. During remission, the signs and symptoms of vasculitis disappear but can still flare up, or return, at any time.

In some people, however, long-term medication management is needed to control vasculitis symptoms. You can expect to follow up with your rheumatologist on a regular basis to ensure the treatment is working and to manage any side effects of medication, such as fatigue, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of infection. 

Because vasculitis can flare up at any time, it is important for people with more severe forms of the condition to continue seeing a rheumatologist after treatment is completed. Your doctor may want to see you annually for several years to monitor your health and to check for any signs of relapse. If vasculitis does flare up, the experts at NYU Langone can immediately treat you and alleviate your symptoms.