Living with Immunoglobulin A vasculitis
Inflammation of small blood vessels in the skin, joints, kidneys, and gut, most often in children.
Understanding Immunoglobulin A vasculitis
It mainly involves the small vessels of the skin, joints, kidneys, and digestive organs. Symptoms usually begin suddenly and progress over days. Most cases are in children and go away without serious or long-term health problems. In adults it may be more severe.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Purple spots on the skin (purpura)
- Joint pain or arthritis
- Belly pain
- Blood in the urine
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists, kidney specialists and lung and breathing specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Autoimmune Association, Global Autoimmune Institute and Vasculitis Foundation may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists (rheumatologists); Kidney specialists (nephrologists); Lung and breathing specialists (pulmonologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Autoimmune Association, Global Autoimmune Institute, Vasculitis Foundation
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Autoimmune Association and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
The cause isn't fully understood. Genes, especially those that help regulate the immune system, may play a role in risk and severity. The disease itself is not inherited.
Also known as: acute vascular purpura; allergic purpura; anaphylactoid purpura; autoimmune purpura; henoch-schoenlein purpura; henoch-schoenlein vasculitis
Patient organizations
- Autoimmune AssociationImmunoglobulin A vasculitis · United States
- Global Autoimmune InstituteImmunoglobulin A vasculitis · United States
- Vasculitis FoundationImmunoglobulin A vasculitis · United States
- Arthritis FoundationImmunoglobulin A vasculitis · United States
- The Lauren Currie Twilight FoundationImmunoglobulin A vasculitis · National Kidney Foundation
- Renal Support NetworkKidney diseases · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Immunoglobulin A vasculitis.
Explore research for Immunoglobulin A vasculitis
Explore actively recruiting Immunoglobulin A vasculitis studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Immunoglobulin A vasculitis with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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