When people in New Jersey go to a hospital or a doctor, they expect to receive an accurate diagnosis of their health conditions. However, they may face a surprisingly common likelihood of misdiagnosis in some cases. Vasculitis is a type of inflammation of the blood vessels, which can be dangerous at times. However, there are other conditions that can appear to resemble vasculitis, but the effective treatments for the inflammatory condition could actually lead to worsened health in these cases.
Experts are advising rheumatologists and other physicians to be careful when making vasculitis diagnoses in order to avoid potentially harmful medical mistakes as the result of an incorrect diagnosis. High-dose corticosteroids are some of the most common initial treatments for vasculitis. However, endocarditis often resembles vasculitis. One patient who was treated with steroids had a stroke and suffered permanent disabilities as a result. Blood cultures were not ordered before treatment was started, and the similar disease was missed. In addition, many adults develop vasculitis as a side effect of a drug, including both prescribed and recreational substances. This type of vasculitis can require different treatments than those cases that arise spontaneously.
In other cases, people with cholesterol emboli may have similar lab results to people with legitimate diagnoses of vasculitis. However, the treatment for both disorders can be very different. The same is true of other types of rare disorders that can appear on first glance to be vasculitis. This can be one reason it is important to fully investigate before launching potentially harmful treatments.
People who receive incorrect drugs or other mistaken treatments may suffer significantly worsened health conditions as a result. Victims of these types of errors can consult with a medical malpractice attorney about their options to pursue compensation for their damages, including pain and suffering, lost wages and medical bills.