Background/Purpose:
Urticarial vasculitis is an infrecuent subset of vasculitis described by McDuffy et al, in 1973, characterized clinically by urticarial skin lesions of more than 24 hours duration and histologically by vasculitis. Our aim was to evaluate the frequency, clinical and pathological features and treatment of UV from a large series of patients with cutaneous vasculitis.
Methods:
Retrospective study of UV from a series of 877 patients with cutaneous vasculitis of a University Hospital. For the diagnosis of UV, besides urticarial lesions persisting more than 24 hours, a skin biopsy showing necrotizing vasculitis of small vessels was required.
Results:
UV was observed in 19 (2.17%) of 877 patients with cutaneous vasculitis. There were 8 men and 11women, with a mean age of 33.21 ± 26.08 years. Precipitating factors and / or possible causes identified were upper respiratory tract infections (4 cases), drugs (4 cases), malignancy (megakaryocytic leukemia, 1 case) and 1 patient had a Schnitzler syndrome. Besides urticarial lesions, other features such as palpable purpura (7 patients), arthralgias (5 patients), arthritis (7 patients), abdominal pain (2 patients), and nephropathy (2 patients) were observed. Hypocomplementemia (low C4) was observed in 2 of the 19 patients. These patients also had low C1q. Other abnormal laboratory data observed were increase of ESR (6 cases), leukocytosis (7 cases), anemia (4 cases), positive ANA (2 cases), and positive Rheumatoid Factor (1 case). Neither of the patients with positive ANA or Rheumatoid Factor developed systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis or any other connective-tissue disease. The main histological findings were vascular and perivascular infiltration, endothelial swelling and fibrinoid necrosis. The cellular infiltrate was composed mainly of neutrophils, lymphocytes and eosinophils. The most common treatments were corticosteroids (10 cases), antihistaminic drugs (6 cases), chloroquine (4 cases), colchicine (2 cases) and NSAIDs (1 case). The patient with Schnitzler syndrome needed cytotoxic agents. After a mean follow-up of 16.68 ± 27.78 months (median 4 months) recurrences were observed in 4 patients. A patient died because of an underlying malignancy while the remaining had full recovery without complications
Conclusion:
UV is a rare subtype of cutaneous vasculitis. In addition to urticarial skin lesions, joint involvement was the most common clinical manifestation. Corticosteroids and antihistaminic drugs are the drugs more commonly used. The prognosis depends on the underlying disease but is usually good.
Disclosure:
J. Loricera,
None;
V. Calvo-Rio,
None;
F. Ortiz Sanjuan,
None;
M. A. Gonzalez-Lopez,
None;
H. Fernandez-Llaca,
None;
J. Rueda-Gotor,
None;
C. Gonzalez-Vela,
None;
C. Mata-Arnaiz,
None;
J. L. Peña-Sagredo,
None;
M. A. Gonzalez-Gay,
None;
R. Blanco,
None.
« Back to 2012 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting
ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/urticarial-vasculitis-clinical-study/