Vasculitis

Emergency

• Giant Cell (Temporal) Arteritis especially with visual symptoms
• End organ damage e.g. acute kidney injury, haemoptysis or severe functional impairment due to neurological involvement 

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.

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

Information to be included in the referral

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:

• New onset, uni- or bi-temporal headache, jaw claudication, scalp tenderness
• New temporary or permanent visual loss or diplopia
• Constitutional/ systemic symptoms
• Vasculitic skin rash, especially if in conjunction with other relevant symptoms such as inflammatory arthralgia, myalgia, unexplained neurological deficits/neuropathy and severe refractory upper respiratory tract symptoms
• Presence of haemoptysis in conjunction with concern over vasculitis requires emergency department referral
• New onset inflammatory muscle or joint pain
• Onset of symptoms
• Evidence of end organ damage
• Past medical history, medications

Examination:

• Evidence of abnormality of the temporal arteries
• Presence of vasculitic rash, neurological deficits, upper respiratory tract cartilage damage eg saddle nose, chondritis
• Presence of synovitis
• Functional capacity

Tests

• FBE, ESR and CRP
• U&E, LFT
• CK
• ANCA
• Thyroid function tests
• MSU for dysmorphic red cells/casts and assessment for proteinuria with Protein:Creatinine ratio

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

Urgent (Category 1)

• Any other concern about vasculitis with organ involvement please discuss with registrar or consultant directly.

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

Availability

View all clinic availability