Vasculitis: Rare disease that took Harold Ramis

When actor and director Harold Ramis died in February at age 69, his death was widely reported. After all, he was known for starring in blockbuster films such as “Ghostbusters” and directing comedies such as “Caddyshack.”

However, many people haven’t likely heard of the disease that led to his death.

Ramis died from a form of vasculitis, a disease that develops when the immune system essentially attacks the body’s veins and arteries. The blood vessels become inflamed, and the disease can lead to complications such as an aneurysm or possibly internal bleeding.

“(Vasculitis) is really uncommon and rare,” said Dr. Michael Sise, trauma medical director at Scripps Mercy Hospital, which has locations in Chula Vista and San Diego.

In many cases, the cause of vasculitis is unknown.

Dr. Raghava Gollapudi, an interventional cardiologist at Sharp HealthCare in San Diego, said the disease can lead the blood vessels to narrow, get bigger or rupture. Some people with the disease suffer strokes or heart attacks as a result, or experience a tear in an artery such as the aorta.

He said it can also lead to a loss of blood flow to the eyes, kidneys or other areas of the body, which could potentially result in kidney failure.

“It can lead to a variety of problems,” he said.

In addition, Gollapudi said some people who have the disease suffer from vasculitis on its own, while others who have it may also suffer from other conditions such as lupus or rheumatory arthritis.

But it’s rare enough that if a patient comes to a doctor with abdominal pain, for instance, vasculitis is often not the first thing a doctor thinks about, said Gollapudi.

Still, Sise said many patients with the disease frequently first notice it in their hands. They typically become intolerant to cold because of breakdown of tissue in the fingers.

While he said lab tests can show an elevation in inflammation that comes with the disease, an X-ray of the arteries is a common way to know for sure whether someone has the disease.

Sise said the disease usually doesn’t cause death. Rather, he said it’s often a chronic problem.

Gollapudi said there are many treatments available to treat vasculitis, typically anti-inflammatory medications such as prednisone. However, he said patients taking medications for vasculitis may be at a higher risk for infections because the immune system is suppressed by the drugs.

In addition, he said if one treatment doesn’t work, a second line of treatment can be tried, but the drugs given can lead to side effects such as infection or brittle bones.

“Sometimes, the treatment itself can lead to problems,” he said.

While medication often doesn’t cure the disease, he said the upside is that many patients can have vasculitis and still live normally.

“Some patients will get cured, (but) most won’t be cured,” he said. “But it can be controlled.”

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