About 100,000 Americans per year are hospitalized for care of vasculitis. Whereas these numbers are relatively small, compared to heart disease or cancer, the impact of vasculitis is substantial.
Systemic vasculitis is often life threatening and likely to produce disability or death.
For example, in the case of Wegener's granulomatosis, approximately 1500 patients are hospitalized for this illness every year. Because of the rarity of these disorders, medical expertise to provide care is limited, care may be compromised and unnecessary morbidity and mortality often occur. In addition, research to improve treatment and better understand the cause and pathogenesis of these diseases has been sparse. To ensure the best possible care for patients with vasculitis. To discover the causes of these diseases.