Just wanted to know if any one on here was diagnosed through having this ultrasound.
Due to have it done nwxt week.
I have already had a standard kidneys and bladder ultrasound.
This one I picks up arteries and blood vessels,which can also pick up deseases.
Thanking you in advance.
An ultrasound of your kidneys and bladder won't pick up Vasculitis. This is because the vessels affected are tiny ( capillaries ) the gold standard is kidney biopsy as they need to be examined under the microscope. It will show any blockages, stones, hydronephrosis, problems with the large vessel blood supply to the kidneys etc.
Unfortunately we are finding that this is a common misconception amongst some Dr's.
It is my understanding it would also show up narrowing and infection in the blood vessels and arteries.Kidney biopsy is that if any indication of desease???thank you.
Only the large blood vessels. The blood vessels that do the filtering of urine in the kidneys are microscopic and need to be examined under a microscope for evidence of Vasculitis.
You can't rule out Vasculitis affecting the kidneys by an ultrasound. I am sorry that I am not giving you the news you want to hear but it is the facts.
Apart from anything else why are they looking at your kidneys if the rule out is Primary Central Nervous System Vasculitis. Do you have blood or protein in your urine and deranged kidney function tests ( U&E's )?
All I can think if is maybe they want the scan done to see if any abnormalities.Maybe for a biopsy as I have had protein in urine no blood thou.so if a gold standard kidney biopsy is required if cerebal vasculities is suspected.
Just wish for a reply from someone who had to go down this path for a diagnosis.
It just seems like one tests goes on to another.
The problem is Jan that there are 18 different types of Vasculitis all affecting different sizes of blood vessels ( small, medium and large ).
" Pure " central nervous system Vasculitis doesn't usually affect the kidneys but other types of Vascultis that do affect the kidneys can affect the brain as well.
There is no one definitive test ( apart from a positive biopsy ) that can diagnose Vascultis as its a rare, complex illness. The diagnostic process can take a while involving blood tests, scans etc and also taking into account symptoms.
The thing that really makes the difference is seeing a Consultant who has good experience in diagnosing and treating Vasculitis. The question to ask is how many cases of Vasculitis have you seen?
You don't have to have gone down the path personally to know something is an inadequate test for something. Vasculitis is a very rare disease even overall - each individual form is even more so. The people at VasculitisUK may not have had a particular version themselves - but they do know the differences.
Neither an ultrasound nor a biopsy of the kidneys will diagnose CNSV. As Keyes says, lots of tests are needed, often to exclude conditions which show similar symptoms.
On husband's behalf
Avacopan and Pred
Vasculitis and the ears and eyes
Vasculitis and arm . 
