The Center for Vasculitis Care and Research at Cleveland Clinic is specifically devoted to patients with these rare diseases.
Click on the links above to learn more about the diseases we treat and services we provide for our patients.
Background
The prevalence of certain specific types of vasculitis in the United States is about 3/100,000 population for Wegener’s granulomatosis, 6/100,000 for hypersensitivity angiitis, 3/100,000 for polyarteritis nodosa, 20/100,000 for giant cell arteritis of the elderly, and 1/100,000 for Takayasu’s arthritis. For just this small sample of selected vasculitides, the combined prevalence is over 30/100,000 population. 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. Eleven percent die in the course of hospitalization, 31% become totally disabled in performing their usual occupation and 20% become partially disabled over 5 years from the time of disease onset. Between loss of personal income and hospitalizations, Wegener’s granulomatosis costs our health care system and patients over $40 million per year. This figure does not take into account the loss of income that results from an 11% mortality rate among hospitalized patients with this illness (Hoffman et al. Arthritis and Rheumatism 1998).
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.
Missions of the Center for Vasculitis Care and Research
- To ensure the best possible care for patients with vasculitis.
- To discover the causes of these diseases.
- To identify improved therapies for patients with vasculitis.
- To educate physicians to provide state-of-the-art care for patients with vasculitis.
Goals
- The Center for Vasculitis Care and Research at Cleveland Clinic is specifically devoted to patients with these rare diseases.
- Education of physicians: Enhance our already successful recruitment of dedicated physicians from around the world who desire further training to provide care for patients with vasculitis.
- Is composed of permanently assigned Senior Staff, responsible for developing specific programs for patient care and research for the broad range of vasculitic disorders.
To make an appointment with a specialist in the Center for Vasculitis Care and Research, call 866.275.7496.
