Overview
Postinfectious vasculitis is a condition where the blood vessels become inflamed after the body has fought off an infection. 'Vasculitis' simply means inflammation of the blood vessels, and 'postinfectious' means it happens as a reaction following an infection — not during the infection itself. The immune system, which normally protects the body, sometimes stays in an overactive state after an infection is cleared, and this can cause it to mistakenly attack the walls of blood vessels throughout the body. This inflammation can affect small, medium, or large blood vessels in different organs, including the skin, kidneys, lungs, nerves, and joints. When blood vessels are inflamed, they may become narrowed, weakened, or leaky, which reduces blood flow to important tissues. Common infections that can trigger this condition include bacterial infections like streptococcus, viral infections like hepatitis B or C, and others. Symptoms vary widely depending on which blood vessels are affected, but often include skin rashes, joint pain, fatigue, and fever. Treatment usually focuses on calming the immune system using anti-inflammatory medicines. With proper care, many people recover well, though some may have a more prolonged course. This condition is also sometimes called infection-triggered vasculitis or reactive vasculitis.
Key symptoms:
Skin rash, often purple or red spots (called purpura) that do not fade when pressedJoint pain and swellingFatigue and general feeling of being unwellFeverAbdominal (belly) painBlood in the urine or foamy urine, suggesting kidney involvementNumbness or tingling in the hands or feetMuscle weaknessSwelling in the legs or feetShortness of breath if the lungs are affectedHigh blood pressure
Clinical phenotype terms (50)— hover any for plain English
Sporadic
Usually appears on its own, not inherited from a parent
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Postinfectious vasculitis.
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Treatment Centers
8 centersBaylor College of Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🏥 NORDStanford Medicine Rare Disease Center ↗
Stanford Medicine
📍 Stanford, CA
🔬 UDNNIH Clinical Center Undiagnosed Diseases Program ↗
National Institutes of Health
📍 Bethesda, MD
🔬 UDNUCLA UDN Clinical Site ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
🔬 UDNBaylor College of Medicine UDN Clinical Site ↗
Baylor College of Medicine
📍 Houston, TX
🔬 UDNHarvard/MGH UDN Clinical Site ↗
Massachusetts General Hospital
📍 Boston, MA
🏥 NORDMayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine ↗
Mayo Clinic
📍 Rochester, MN
👤 Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine
🏥 NORDUCLA Rare Disease Day Program ↗
UCLA Health
📍 Los Angeles, CA
Travel Grants
No travel grants are currently matched to Postinfectious vasculitis.
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Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
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Mental Health Support
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Family & Caregiver Grants
Financial assistance programs specifically for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Social Security Disability
Learn how rare disease patients may qualify for SSDI/SSI benefits.
Questions for your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment
- Q1.Which infection triggered my vasculitis, and has it been fully treated?,Which of my organs are affected, and how serious is the damage?,What medications will I need, and what are the main side effects I should watch for?,How long will I need to take immunosuppressive medications?,What symptoms should prompt me to go to the emergency room?,How often do I need follow-up blood and urine tests?,What is the chance that my vasculitis will come back, and how can I reduce that risk?
Common questions about Postinfectious vasculitis
What is Postinfectious vasculitis?
Postinfectious vasculitis is a condition where the blood vessels become inflamed after the body has fought off an infection. 'Vasculitis' simply means inflammation of the blood vessels, and 'postinfectious' means it happens as a reaction following an infection — not during the infection itself. The immune system, which normally protects the body, sometimes stays in an overactive state after an infection is cleared, and this can cause it to mistakenly attack the walls of blood vessels throughout the body. This inflammation can affect small, medium, or large blood vessels in different organs, i
How is Postinfectious vasculitis inherited?
Postinfectious vasculitis follows a sporadic inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Which specialists treat Postinfectious vasculitis?
6 specialists and care centers treating Postinfectious vasculitis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.