[Intractable vasculitis syndromes--incidence and epidemiology]

Incidence and epidemiology of various diseases related to vasculitis were mainly reviewed from recent studies carried out in the Research Committee of Intractable Vasculitis Syndrome supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Japan. A relative higher proportion of patients with aortitis syndrome (Takayasu's arteritis), Buerger's disease was reported in Asia compared to Europe and the United States. Today, the incidence of these diseases is considered to indicate a trend to decrease in Japan. However, the number of patients studied by the Committee remained almost unchanged. The patients are reported from all districts of Japan, though the incidences varied with the prefecture. The Research Committee is continuing further careful epidemiological investigations by established diagnostic criteria from year to year.