Does having relatives with any form of an autoimmune disease have anything to do with my having vasculitis?

Autoimmune Disease: There are many forms of vasculitis and several are associated with underlying autoimmune disease like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma, etc. Sometimes, the vasculitis is the initial presentation of what will eventually be one of these diseases. Autoimmune diseases can have a prevalence in families. It is too difficult to say where you lie along this spectrum. Consult with your physicians.

Autoimmunity: Genetics definitely plays a role but it is not the end all, be all. Vasculitis is simply an inflammation of the vessels. Keep tabs on what illnesses your relatives have and then ask your physician for a detailed explanation of your own disease to better understand the spectrum and where you (your kids) might fall.