How should I approach the management of a patient with newly diagnosed vasculitis, including referral criteria to secondary care?

Approach to management of newly diagnosed vasculitis:

• Initial assessment: Conduct a thorough clinical evaluation to confirm diagnosis and assess severity, including history, examination, and relevant blood tests (e.g., inflammatory markers, autoantibodies).
• Referral criteria: Refer urgently to secondary care (rheumatology or relevant specialist) if vasculitis is suspected or newly diagnosed, especially if there is evidence of organ involvement, systemic symptoms, or rapidly progressive disease.
• Investigations in primary care: Basic blood tests may be performed but should not delay referral for specialist opinion.
• Specialist management: Secondary care will confirm diagnosis, perform further investigations (e.g., biopsy, imaging), and initiate immunosuppressive treatment as appropriate.
• Patient involvement: Ensure patients are involved in discussions about their care and treatment options.

In summary, early recognition and urgent referral to secondary care for specialist assessment and management is essential in newly diagnosed vasculitis to prevent organ damage and improve outcomes.