VEXAS syndrome in men is more common than previously thought A rare disease first identified in 2020 is much more common than first thought, say researchers at the University of Leeds investigating its origins. VEXAS syndrome is a serious inflammatory condition which develops in men over 50, causing them to become very sick and fatigued, and can be fatal. It was originally thought to be rare, but a new study has identified genetic mutations which indicate that the disease is actually much more common. The researchers developed a genetic test to identify patients who may have the disease, and now want to screen more people showing symptoms to understand exactly how common it is.