A detailed history is important to elicit any recent medications, any risk of hepatitis infection, or any recent diagnosis with a connective tissue disorder such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A thorough physical exam is needed as usual. *Lab tests. Basic lab tests may include a complete blood count, chemiestries (look for creatinine), creatine phosphokinase level, liver function tests, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, hepatitis serologies, urinalysis, chest X-ray, and an electrocardiogram. Additional, more specific tests include: * Antinuclear antibody test can detect an underlying connective tissue disorder, especially lupus erythematosus * Complement levels that are low can suggest mixed cryoglobulinemia, hepatitis C infection, and lupus erythematosus, but not most other vasculitides. * Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody may suggest granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis, eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis, or drug-induced vasculitis, but is not diagnostic. *Electromyography. It is useful if a<unk>  is suspected and neuromuscular symptoms are present. *Arteriography. Arteriograms are helpful in vasculitis affecting the large and medium vessels but not helpful in small vessel vasculitis. Angiograms of mesenteric or renal arteries in polyarteritis nodosa may show aneurysms, occlusions, and vascular wall abnormalities. Arteriography are not diagnostic in itself if other accessible areas for biopsy are present. However, in Takayasu's arteritis, where the aorta may be involved, it is unlikely a biopsy will be successful and angiography can be diagnostic. *Tissue biopsy. This is the gold standard of diagnosis when it is taken from the most involved area.
Systemic vasculitis
Lupus vasculitis
Rheumatoid vasculitis
Livedoid vasculitis
Urticarial vasculitis
Bullous small vessel vasculitis
Systemic vasculitides
IgA vasculitis