The Genetics Study of Systemic Vasculitis

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You are invited to participate in a new research study on the genetics of vasculitis. Some examples of the diseases classified as vasculitis include Wegener's granulomatosis, Takayasu's arteritis, microscopic polyangiitis, the Churg-Strauss syndrome, and polyarteritis nodosa.

Vasculitis is a group of diseases about which much remains unknown. This is particularly true about risk factors for the disease: who gets the disease and why?

We believe that genes contribute to a person's risk of getting vasculitis. This study is designed to identify some of the genes that may be important in leading to the condition of your specific form of vasculitis.

Your participation in the study would involve the following:

(1) You must have a diagnosis of vasculitis and be willing to answer a series of questions regarding your health and medications. We may also ask your doctor some questions regarding your health and test results. Before starting this study, we will have you sign a form that tells you about this study and how we plan to keep your information private during the study.

(2) You must have two living biological parents or one parent and two siblings who are also willing to participate in the study.

(3) You would provide a blood sample that could be drawn at your doctor's office using materials we send in the mail. The sample will be mailed back to us, using a pre-packaged mailing kit.

(4) After completing the consent process, your parents and/or siblings would provide a swab from inside their cheek (this can be done at home, without requiring a visit to their doctor's office or drawing blood) using materials we would send in the mail. The swab would then be mailed back to us, using a pre-packaged mailing kit.

If you are interested in participating in this study, you may contact us in one of two ways:

Telephone (on a toll-free number): 1-800-226-6023

Email: jhvc@jhmi.edu

We appreciate your interest in the study.

Sincerely,

Dr. Stuart Levine

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Co-Director, The Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center

Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center

Division of Rheumatology