National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center, a program of the National Center for Advancing and Translational Sciences

Hypersensitivity vasculitis



Other Names:
Leukocytoclastic angiitis; Cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis; Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis; Leukocytoclastic angiitis; Cutaneous leukocytoclastic angiitis; Cutaneous leukocytoclastic vasculitis; Cutaneous small vessel vasculitis; Hypersensitivity angiitis See More
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Hypersensitivity vasculitis is an extreme reaction to a drug, infection, or foreign substance that leads to inflammation and damage to blood vessels of the skin. Signs and symptoms may include purple-colored spots and patches on the skin; skin lesions on the legs, buttocks, or trunk; blisters on the skin; hives (urticaria); and/or open sores with dead tissue (necrotic ulcers). This condition is caused by an allergic reaction to a drug or other foreign substance. This condition usually goes away over time; but on occasion, people can have repeated episodes.[1]
Last updated: 12/14/2011

This table lists symptoms that people with this disease may have. For most diseases, symptoms will vary from person to person. People with the same disease may not have all the symptoms listed. This information comes from a database called the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO) . The HPO collects information on symptoms that have been described in medical resources. The HPO is updated regularly. Use the HPO ID to access more in-depth information about a symptom.

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Medical Terms Other Names
Learn More:
HPO ID
80%-99% of people have these symptoms
Cutis marmorata 0000965
Erythema 0010783
Fever 0001945
Gangrene
Death of body tissue due to lack of blood flow or infection
0100758
Myalgia
Muscle ache
Muscle pain
[ more ]
0003326
Papule 0200034
Purpura
Red or purple spots on the skin
0000979
Recurrent skin infections
Skin infections, recurrent
0001581
Urticaria
Hives
0001025
Vasculitis
Inflammation of blood vessel
0002633
30%-79% of people have these symptoms
Arthralgia
Joint pain
0002829
Skin rash 0000988
5%-29% of people have these symptoms
Abnormal oral cavity morphology
Abnormality of the oral cavity
0000163
Subcutaneous nodule
Firm lump under the skin
Growth of abnormal tissue under the skin
[ more ]
0001482
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Last updated: 7/1/2020

If you need medical advice, you can look for doctors or other healthcare professionals who have experience with this disease. You may find these specialists through advocacy organizations, clinical trials, or articles published in medical journals. You may also want to contact a university or tertiary medical center in your area, because these centers tend to see more complex cases and have the latest technology and treatments.

If you can’t find a specialist in your local area, try contacting national or international specialists. They may be able to refer you to someone they know through conferences or research efforts. Some specialists may be willing to consult with you or your local doctors over the phone or by email if you can't travel to them for care.

You can find more tips in our guide, How to Find a Disease Specialist. We also encourage you to explore the rest of this page to find resources that can help you find specialists.

Healthcare Resources

  • If your physician would like to review your case with a vasculitis specialist, the Vasculitis Foundation lists vasculitis medical consultants that may be able to speak with your healthcare provider. Click on the link above to learn more.
  • The Vasculitis Foundation has a "Find a Physician" map on its website.

Research helps us better understand diseases and can lead to advances in diagnosis and treatment. This section provides resources to help you learn about medical research and ways to get involved.

Clinical Research Resources

  • ClinicalTrials.gov lists trials that are related to Hypersensitivity vasculitis. Click on the link to go to ClinicalTrials.gov to read descriptions of these studies.

    Please note: Studies listed on the ClinicalTrials.gov website are listed for informational purposes only; being listed does not reflect an endorsement by GARD or the NIH. We strongly recommend that you talk with a trusted healthcare provider before choosing to participate in any clinical study.

Patient Registry

  • The Vasculitis Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC) is an integrated group of academic medical centers, patient support organizations, and clinical research resources dedicated to conducting clinical research in different forms of vasculitis. The VCRC has a contact registry for patients who wish to be contacted about clinical research opportunities and updates on the progress of the VCRC research projects.

    For more information on the registry see: https://www.rarediseasesnetwork.org/cms/vcrc/About-Us

Support and advocacy groups can help you connect with other patients and families, and they can provide valuable services. Many develop patient-centered information and are the driving force behind research for better treatments and possible cures. They can direct you to research, resources, and services. Many organizations also have experts who serve as medical advisors or provide lists of doctors/clinics. Visit the group’s website or contact them to learn about the services they offer. Inclusion on this list is not an endorsement by GARD.

Organizations Supporting this Disease


These resources provide more information about this condition or associated symptoms. The in-depth resources contain medical and scientific language that may be hard to understand. You may want to review these resources with a medical professional.

Where to Start

  • DermNet NZ is an online resource about skin diseases developed by the New Zealand Dermatological Society Incorporated. DermNet NZ provides information about this condition.
  • MedlinePlus was designed by the National Library of Medicine to help you research your health questions, and it provides more information about this topic.

In-Depth Information

  • Medscape Reference provides information on this topic. You may need to register to view the medical textbook, but registration is free.
    Hypersensitivity Vasculitis
    Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis
  • The Monarch Initiative brings together data about this condition from humans and other species to help physicians and biomedical researchers. Monarch’s tools are designed to make it easier to compare the signs and symptoms (phenotypes) of different diseases and discover common features. This initiative is a collaboration between several academic institutions across the world and is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Visit the website to explore the biology of this condition.
  • Orphanet is a European reference portal for information on rare diseases and orphan drugs. Access to this database is free of charge.

Questions sent to GARD may be posted here if the information could be helpful to others. We remove all identifying information when posting a question to protect your privacy. If you do not want your question posted, please let us know.


  1. Allergic vasculitis. MedlinePlus. 2011; http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000874.htm. Accessed 12/14/2011.