What are the common complications of systemic vasculitis that I should monitor for in my patients?

Common complications of systemic vasculitis to monitor in patients include:

• Organ ischemia and infarction: Due to vessel inflammation and occlusion, leading to tissue damage in affected organs such as kidneys, lungs, and peripheral nerves ¹ (Moosig et al., 2009).
• Renal impairment: Particularly in small-vessel vasculitis like ANCA-associated vasculitis, which can cause rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and chronic kidney disease ¹ (Villa-Forte et al., 2010).
• Neurological complications: Peripheral neuropathy and mononeuritis multiplex from nerve ischemia are common and require monitoring ¹ (Moosig et al., 2009).
• Respiratory involvement: Pulmonary hemorrhage and interstitial lung disease can occur, especially in granulomatosis with polyangiitis, necessitating vigilance for respiratory symptoms ¹ (Villa-Forte et al., 2010).
• Cardiovascular complications: Including myocarditis, pericarditis, and increased risk of accelerated atherosclerosis due to chronic inflammation ¹ (Moosig et al., 2009).
• Infections: Secondary to immunosuppressive therapy used in vasculitis management, increasing susceptibility to opportunistic infections ¹ (Villa-Forte et al., 2010).
• Medication-related toxicity: Monitoring for adverse effects of corticosteroids and cytotoxic agents is essential ¹ (Villa-Forte et al., 2010).

Imaging modalities can assist in detecting vascular inflammation and complications early, supporting clinical monitoring (Troum et al., 2025).