Risk factors

Vasculitis can happen to anyone. Factors that may increase the risk of certain disorders include:

• Age. Giant cell arteritis rarely occurs before the age of 50, while Kawasaki disease is most common in children younger than 5 years old.
• Family history. Behcet's disease, granulomatosis with polyangiitis and Kawasaki disease sometimes run in families.
• Lifestyle choices. Using cocaine can increase your risk of developing vasculitis. Smoking tobacco, especially if you're a man younger than 45, can increase your risk of Buerger's disease.
• Medications. Vasculitis can sometimes be triggered by medications such as hydralazine, allopurinol, minocycline and propylthiouracil.
• Infections. Having hepatitis B or C can increase your risk of vasculitis.
• Immune disorders. People who have disorders in which their immune systems mistakenly attack their own bodies may be at higher risk of vasculitis. Examples include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma.
• Sex. Giant cell arteritis is much more common in women, while Buerger's disease is more common in men.