Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis complicated with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage: a case report and review of literature

Abstract

Urticarial vasculitis is a small-vessel vasculitis characterized clinically by urticaria and microscopically by leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome is a rare subtype of urticarial vasculitis with organ involvement and persistent, acquired hypocomplementemia. Pulmonary involvement, usually seen as diffuse alveolar damage, is an uncommon complication and a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. Here we present a rare case of hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome complicated by diffuse alveolar damage and describe the beneficial effect of cyclophosphamide-dexamethasone.

Keywords

• hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis, leukocytoclastic vasculitis, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage.