1 May 2015
Raising awareness of vasculitis
Arthritis New Zealand Chief Executive Sandra Kirby urges New Zealanders to become aware of a little known condition next
month: vasculitis. May is Vasculitis Awareness Month.
“Although it is not a form of arthritis, it can be associated with many arthritic disorders. So it is a condition that
concerns us, and we want more people to be aware of it,” Ms Kirby said today.
Vasculitis causes inflammation of the blood vessels and can affect tissues throughout the body. Because various parts of
the body may be involved, an enormous number of distressing symptoms are possible.
“We are here to advise and support people who are living with the more than 140 different forms of arthritis. But we
are also here to advise and support people who are living with related conditions, like vasculitis,” Ms Kirby concluded.
There are more than 578,000 New Zealanders living with arthritis, which is one of New Zealand’s leading causes of
disability. Arthritis New Zealand is a national organisation that raises awareness of all forms of arthritis, advocates
for those living with arthritis, funds research, and provides support through information and advice.
ends