Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 18, 2026

Imaging Features of Systemic Sclerosis-Associated Interstitial Lung Disease
Published on: June 16, 2020
Epidemiology of systemic vasculitis: changing incidence or definition?
R A Watts1, D M Carruthers, D G Scott
1Department of Rheumatology, Norfolk & Norwich Hospital, Norwich, UK.
Abstract:
The epidemiology of the systemic vasculitides is poorly documented. Many studies have been conducted from tertiary referral centers, with resulting problems of referral bias and uncertainty of denominator population, or have involved small populations. We have estimated the incidence of the major forms of systemic vasculitis in a stable, ethnically homogeneous population of 414,000 adults from 1988 to 1994. The overall annual incidence of systemic vasculitis (excluding giant cell arteritis) is 39/million (95% confidence intervals; ranging from 31 to 47). The annual incidence of Wegener's granulomatosis is 8.5/million (range, 5.2 to 12.9), Churg-Strauss syndrome 2.4/million (0.9 to 5.3), microscopic polyangiitis 2.4/million (0.9 to 5.3), adult Henoch-Schonlein purpura 1.2/million (0.3 to 3.5), and systemic rheumatoid vasculitis 12.5/million (8.5 to 17.7). These data suggest that the overall incidence of systemic vasculitis is greater than previously thought (10/million) with Wegener's granulomatosis and systemic rheumatoid vasculitis being the most common. Whether this represents a genuine increase in incidence or increased physician awareness is uncertain.
Related Concept Videos
Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
Rheumatic Heart Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Venous Thrombosis II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Studies
Nephrotic Syndrome I : Introduction
Acute Inflammation III: Local and Systemic Effects
