Overview
Vasculitis is a group of diseases where the immune system mistakenly attacks and inflames the walls of blood vessels. This inflammation can affect arteries, veins, or small capillaries anywhere in the body. When blood vessel walls become swollen and damaged, blood flow to organs and tissues can be reduced or blocked, which can cause serious harm. There are many different types of vasculitis, including Giant Cell Arteritis, Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (formerly called Wegener's granulomatosis), Polyarteritis Nodosa, Takayasu Arteritis, Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss syndrome), Microscopic Polyangiitis, and IgA Vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein Purpura), among others. Each type tends to affect different blood vessel sizes and different parts of the body. Symptoms vary widely depending on which vessels are involved, but common signs include fatigue, fever, skin rashes, joint pain, and organ damage. Some forms mainly affect the skin, while others can damage the kidneys, lungs, nerves, or eyes. Because vasculitis can look like many other conditions, it is often difficult to diagnose quickly. Treatment usually involves medicines that calm the immune system, such as corticosteroids like prednisone, and stronger immunosuppressants like cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, or rituximab. Some forms of vasculitis can go into remission with treatment, while others require long-term management. Early diagnosis and treatment are key to preventing permanent organ damage.
Also known as:
Key symptoms:
Extreme tiredness and fatigueFever and night sweatsSkin rashes, red or purple spots, or soresJoint pain and swellingMuscle achesNumbness or tingling in hands and feetShortness of breath or coughBlood in urine or reduced kidney functionHeadachesVision changes or vision lossAbdominal painUnintended weight lossSinus problems or nosebleedsHigh blood pressureSwollen lymph nodes
Multifactorial
Caused by a mix of several genes and environmental factors
Variable
Can begin at different ages, from infancy through adulthood
FDA & Trial Timeline
10 eventsAssiut University — NA
Ordu University — NA
McGill University Health Centre/Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre
Region Skane — PHASE4
University Hospital, Brest
Karamanoğlu Mehmetbey University — NA
University Hospital, Strasbourg, France
Nanjing Medical University
University of Pennsylvania
Data sourced from FDA regulatory filings and ClinicalTrials.gov. Updated periodically.
Treatments
No FDA-approved treatments are currently listed for Vasculitis.
13 clinical trialsare actively recruiting — trials can provide access to cutting-edge therapies.
View clinical trials →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 Vasculitis.
Community
No community posts yet. Be the first to share your experience with Vasculitis.
Start the conversation →Latest news about Vasculitis
Disease timeline:
New recruiting trial: ROLE of PLATELETS in the PATHOPHYSIOLOGY of SYSTEMIC LUPUS
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Vasculitis
New recruiting trial: The RheumSafer Study: Improving Medication Appropriateness in People With Rheumatic Conditions
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Vasculitis
New recruiting trial: Effects of Topical Sesame Oil in the Prevention of Peripheral Venous Catheter Phlebitis: Clinical Trial.
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Vasculitis
New recruiting trial: Prediction of Risk of Vascular Structural Damage in Patients With Large Vessel Vasculitis (LVV) Based on PET/MRA Image Evaluation System
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Vasculitis
New recruiting trial: Characterization of "Bamboo" and Other Vocal Cord Lesions Responsible for Dysphonia in Patients With Systemic Autoimmune Diseases (BAMBOO)
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Vasculitis
New recruiting trial: Longitudinal Study for Central Nervous System Vasculitis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Vasculitis
New recruiting trial: Whole Exome Sequencing of Familial and Pediatric Forms of Vasculitis
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Vasculitis
New recruiting trial: MEMRI and Kidney Disease
A new clinical trial is recruiting patients for Vasculitis
Caregiver Resources
NORD Caregiver Resources
Support, advocacy, and financial assistance for caregivers of rare disease patients.
Mental Health Support
Rare disease caregiving can be isolating. Connect with counseling and peer support.
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 specific type of vasculitis do I have, and how does that affect my treatment plan?,Which organs are currently affected, and how do we monitor for damage over time?,What are the side effects of the medications you are recommending, and how will we manage them?,How will we know if the treatment is working, and what does remission look like for my type of vasculitis?,What are the warning signs of a flare or a serious complication that should prompt me to go to the emergency room?,Are there any clinical trials or newer treatments I should consider?,What lifestyle changes, vaccinations, or precautions should I take while on immunosuppressive therapy?
Common questions about Vasculitis
What is Vasculitis?
Vasculitis is a group of diseases where the immune system mistakenly attacks and inflames the walls of blood vessels. This inflammation can affect arteries, veins, or small capillaries anywhere in the body. When blood vessel walls become swollen and damaged, blood flow to organs and tissues can be reduced or blocked, which can cause serious harm. There are many different types of vasculitis, including Giant Cell Arteritis, Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (formerly called Wegener's granulomatosis), Polyarteritis Nodosa, Takayasu Arteritis, Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Churg-S
How is Vasculitis inherited?
Vasculitis follows a multifactorial inheritance pattern. Genetic counseling can help families understand recurrence risk and testing options.
Are there clinical trials for Vasculitis?
Yes — 13 recruiting clinical trials are currently listed for Vasculitis on UniteRare. See the clinical trials section on this page for phase, sponsor, and site details sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Which specialists treat Vasculitis?
25 specialists and care centers treating Vasculitis are listed on UniteRare, sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov principal investigators, published research, and the NPPES NPI registry.