Vasculitis that doesn't respond to steroids?

What is vasculitis and what type of vasculitis that doesn't respond to steroids?

Vasculitis in general is a disease involving the inflammation of the blood vessels. The affected blood vessels depend on the area of inflammation, and such a disease can be the disease itself or could be a symptom for another disease, such as an autoimmune disease.

Since it is about inflammation, and possible blood vessel tissue damage, anti-inflammatory agents are used to relieve the inflammation. Usually, cortisone-based drugs are used, which could include prednisone as an anti-inflammatory drug. Other such drugs are used, but different chemical nature, like cyclophosphamide.

Steroids are usually not used as an antiinflammatory agent, although its use for treating some autoimmune diseases has been implicated. Perhaps it is because there are differences in the structure of cortisone and steroid (or sterols in general) which makes steroids not likely to act as inflammatory agents compared to cortisone. Another factor that must be considered is the extent of blood vessel inflammation, as some vasculitis may be severe while some are still tolerable to some degree, which means that medications must be properly formulated so as to prevent any side reactions.

Hope this helps!

I agree with the janitor , I have vasculitis am on prednisalone and a drug called azathiaprine,I also take an high dose of warfarin incase inflamation closes any arteris and the blood tries to clot.Mine is caused by an auto immune broblem due to white bloodcells and platelet production in bone marrow,this is called polly arteritus nodosa I have had it for twenty years, it never gets better only stays controlled.good luck hope this helped.

the name you are looking for is ulticaria vasculitis