Vasculitis

This condition is treated in the Rheumatology clinic.

Pre-referral work-up

History

Possible diagnoses include giant cell/temporal arteritis, polymyalgia rheumatica, ANCA positive vasculitis, ANCA negative vasculitis

All referrals should comply to the referral standards and include in particular:

• A history of:
  • Muscle pain
  • Marked morning stiffness
  • Unilateral Headaches, jaw claudication, acute visual loss
  • Vasculitic skin rash
  • Constitutional /systemic symptoms
  • Onset of symptoms
  • Evidence of end organ damage
  • Past history
• Examination:
  • Functional capacity
  • Evidence of end organ damage

Tests

• FBE, ESR and CRP
• U&E, LFT
• CK
• ANCA
• U/A for protein, MSU for dysmorphic red cells/casts

Interim/GP management

To refer a patient with this condition, please see the Rheumatology clinic page for the full referral process and templates.

• Simple analgesia
• Early discussion with rheumatology team

For more information please see the HealthPathways Tasmania website.

Patient information advice is found at Arthritis Australia

Clinic appointments

🚩 Red location flags are clinical indicators of possible serious underlying conditions requiring further medical intervention. They may or may not indicate an emergency.

Emergency

🚩 Temporal arteritis

If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.

Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.

Urgent (Category 1)

🚩 Acutely ill with systemic symptoms e.g. renal impairment, dyspnoea, rapidly progressive loss of mobility

Please discuss with registrar or consultant. We will endeavour to see these patients within four weeks.

Urgent referrals (e.g. temporal arteritis, septic arthritis) should be accompanied by a phone call to the Rheumatology Registrar or Consultant for urgent assessment, or patient should be directed to the Emergency Department.

Semi-urgent (Category 2)

Polymyalgia rheumatica, subacute symptoms

Availability

North

Refer to General Medicine

North West

Refer to General Medicine

South

Wellington Clinics (Level 10)
Phone: 03 6166 0000
Fax: 03 6234 3982