Most of vasculitides are severe inflammatory connective tissue diseases, not infrequently of dramatically rapid progression. They can cause damage to any organ, i.e. lungs, kidneys, gastrointestinal and the central nervous system. The diseases are rare, but due to the diversity of their symptoms, any doctor can meet this problem in his everyday practice. The knowledge of the symptoms and the diagnostic alert, resulting in instant sending the patient to the appropriate specialistic unit is crucial for the prognosis as to health and often – as to life. The paper presents the pathogenesis and clinical features of vasculitides.