Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome: an interdisciplinary challenge

Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis Syndrome: A Rare Form of Vasculitis

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by recurrent urticarial lesions and acquired hypocomplementemia with systemic manifestations. Systemic involvement can either be present at the onset of disease or develop later. Here, we present a rare case of a 22-year-old female, who initially presented with generalized rash and was eventually diagnosed with HUVS. She responded well to dapsone. This article emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive review of systemic manifestations accompanying urticaria.

A Case of Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis Syndrome With Severe Renal and Gastrointestinal Involvement

We present a severe case of hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) and its diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 56-year-old male presenting with fever and impaired kidney function was diagnosed with HUVS. Before the initiated treatment was effective, he developed severe colon ischemia, and a subtotal colectomy was required. We discuss other affected organs, such as kidneys, lungs, the heart, and the skin. Pathophysiology is briefly reviewed and the difficulty of overlapping autoimmune diseases is discussed. Treatment continues to be challenging, as there is no consensus about the optimal immunosuppressive therapy.

Unraveling the Diagnosis of Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis Syndrome

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) is a rare condition characterized by immune complex-mediated urticarial lesions with histological features of leukocytoclastic vasculitis, low serum complement levels, and is frequently associated with systemic manifestations. Its pathophysiology is poorly understood. We present a patient who presented with abdominal pain and skin rash. Extensive work-up was performed including skin biopsy, and the presence of angioedema, oral ulcers, low complement level, leukocytic vasculitis, and persistent eosinophilia ultimately led to the diagnosis of HUVS. This case highlights the importance of recognizing and differentiating HUVS from other cutaneous diseases, which in turn helps to optimally manage these patients.

Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis Syndrome Masquerading as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report

Introduction

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) is an infrequent immune complex-mediated condition characterized by nonpruritic urticarial lesions, low serum complement levels, and autoantibodies, associated with systemic manifestations like arthralgia/arthritis, angioedema, ocular inflammation with conjunctivitis, episcleritis, uveitis, renal, gastrointestinal, and pulmonary involvement. HUVS and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) overlap and the criteria for identifying HUVS as an entity distinct from SLE are lacking. Despite the diagnostic criteria established by Schwartz et al. [Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2014;26(5):502-9], differentiation from SLE is sometimes difficult as patients often also fulfill the classification criteria of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The prognosis of HUVS depends on the organ system involved. Lung disease results in significant morbidity and mortality and is made worse by smoking. Kidney involvement with glomerulonephritis may ultimately result in end-stage renal disease with the need for kidney transplant. Death may also occur due to acute laryngeal edema.

Case Presentation

We pre-sent a case of a 40-year-old female who had a diagnosis of SLE, presented with severe odynophagia, was found to have an erythematous macular rash, and had acute kidney injury attributed to contrast-related injury and cardiorenal syndrome. After the resolution of the AKI, she continued to have hematuria and low-grade proteinuria that led to a kidney biopsy that aided in the diagnosis of HUVS.

Discussion/Conclusion

Given the rarity of this disease and the difficulty in differentiating HUVS from other rheumatological diseases such as SLE, further accumulation of cases is necessary to understand the best diagnostic modality for this entity.

Kidney Involvement in Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis Syndrome-A Case-Based Review

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS), or McDuffie syndrome, is a rare small vessel vasculitis associated with urticaria, hypocomplementemia and positivity of anti-C1q antibodies. In rare cases, HUVS can manifest as an immune-complex mediated glomerulonephritis with a membranoproliferative pattern of injury. Due to the rarity of this disorder, little is known about the clinical manifestation, pathogenesis, treatment response and outcome of such patients. We describe here three cases of HUVS with severe renal involvement. These patients had a rapidly progressive form of glomerulonephritis with severe nephrotic syndrome against a background of a membranoproliferative pattern of glomerular injury with extensive crescent formation. Therefore, these patients required aggressive induction and maintenance immunosuppressive therapy, with a clinical and renal response in two patients, while the third patient progressed to end-stage renal disease. Because of the rarity of this condition, there are few data regarding the clinical presentation, pathology and outcome of such patients. Accordingly, we provide an extensive literature review of cases reported from 1976 until 2020 and place them in the context of the current knowledge of HUVS pathogenesis. We identified 60 patients with HUVS and renal involvement that had adequate clinical data reported, out of which 52 patients underwent a percutaneous kidney biopsy. The most frequent renal manifestation was hematuria associated with proteinuria (70% of patients), while one third had abnormal kidney function on presentation (estimated glomerular filtration (GFR) below 60 mL/min/1.73 m²). The most frequent glomerular pattern of injury was membranoproliferative (35%), followed by mesangioproliferative (21%) and membranous (19%). Similar to other systemic vasculitis, renal involvement carries a poorer prognosis, but the outcome can be improved by aggressive immunosuppressive treatment.

Pathophysiology and therapy of systemic vasculitides

Systemic vasculitides represent uncommon conditions characterized by the inflammation of blood vessels that can lead to different complex disorders limited to one organ or potentially involving multiple organs and systems. Systemic vasculitides are classified according to the diameter of the vessel that they mainly affect (small, medium, large, or variable). The pathogenetic mechanisms of systemic vasculitides are still partly unknown, as well as their genetic basis. For most of the primary systemic vasculitides, a single gold standard test is not available, and diagnosis is often made after having ruled out other mimicking conditions. Current research has focused on new management protocol and therapeutic strategies aimed at improving long-term patient outcomes and avoiding progression to multiorgan failure with irreversible damage. In this narrative review, authors describe different forms of systemic vasculitides through a review of the literature, with the aim of highlighting the current knowledge and recent findings on etiopathogenesis, diagnosis and therapy.

Management of urticarial vasculitis: A worldwide physician perspective

BACKGROUND

Urticarial vasculitis (UV) is a rare type of leukocytoclastic vasculitis characterized by long lasting urticarial skin lesions and poor response to treatment. As of yet, no clinical guidelines, diagnostic criteria, or treatment algorithms exist, and the approaches to the diagnostic workup and treatment of UV patients may differ globally. We conducted an online survey to examine how UV patients are diagnosed and treated by international specialists and to reveal the greatest challenges in managing UV patients worldwide.

METHODS

Distribution of the questionnaire included an email to individuals in the World Allergy Organization (WAO) database, with no restrictions applied to the specialty, affiliation, or nationality of the participants (November 2018). The email contained a link (Internet address) to the online questionnaire. Responses were anonymous. The link to the questionnaire was further sent to the network of Urticaria Centers of Reference and Excellence (UCARE) in the Global Allergy and Asthma European Network (GA2LEN) as well as to the Turkish Dermatology Society and the Japanese Society of Allergology, who distributed the link to their members. In addition, the survey link was posted online in the group of the Russian Society of Allergologists and Immunologists.

RESULTS

We received 883 completed surveys from physicians in 92 countries. UV was reported to be rare in clinical practice, with an average of 5 patients per physician per year. More than two-thirds of physicians reported wheals, burning of the skin, and residual hyperpigmentation in 60-100% of UV patients. The most frequently reported reason for receiving referrals of patients with UV was to establish the diagnosis. The most important features for establishing the diagnosis of UV were wheals of longer than 24 hours duration (72%), the results of skin biopsy (63%), and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (46%). The most common tests ordered in UV patients were complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, complement components, antinuclear antibodies, and skin biopsy. Physicians considered UV to be of unknown cause in most patients, and drugs and systemic lupus erythematosus to be the most common identifiable causes. Two of 3 physicians reported that they use second-generation antihistamines in standard dose as the first-line therapy in patients with UV. The greatest perceived challenges in the management of UV were the limited efficacy of drugs and the absence of clinical guidelines and treatment algorithms.

CONCLUSIONS

UV is a challenging disease. Skin biopsy, a gold standard for UV diagnosis, is not performed by many physicians. This may lead to misdiagnosis of UV, for example, as chronic spontaneous urticaria, and to inadequate treatment. International consensus-based recommendations for the classification of UV and the diagnostic workup and treatment, as well as prospective studies evaluating potentially safe and effective drugs for the treatment of UV, are necessary.

Normocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis: An Unusual Presentation

Urticarial vasculitis (UV) is a form of cutaneous vasculitis which lasts for >24 h. Clinically, the patients present with erythema and wheals. The level of complement decides the type of UV. This is a case of a middle-aged lady, who developed vesiculobullous lesion over her leg after trekking. She was diagnosed to have normocomplementemic UV. Bullous presentation of UV is a rare scenario.

Exceptional association of hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) and symptomatic pulmonary histoplasmosis: a case-based literature review

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) is a rare type III hypersensitivity disorder characterized by urticarial vasculitis and prolonged hypocomplementemia. Individuals with HUVS may also have joint involvement, pulmonary manifestations, ocular disease, kidney inflammation, or any other form of organ involvement. Hypocomplementemia, the presence of C1q antibody in the serum, and urticarial vasculitis are the keys to the diagnosis of HUVS. It has been reported to accompany certain infections such as hepatitis B, hepatitis C, infectious mononucleosis, and coxsackie group A. However, it has never been reported to be linked to histoplasmosis in the literature. To the best of our knowledge, we report the first case of HUVS presenting concurrently with pulmonary histoplasmosis.

Vasculitides and the Complement System: a Comprehensive Review

Systemic vasculitides are a group of rare diseases characterized by inflammation of the arterial or venous vessel wall, causing stenosis or thrombosis. Clinical symptoms may be limited to skin or to other organs or may include multiple manifestations as systemic conditions. The pathogenesis is related to the presence of leukocytes in the vessels and to the IC deposition, which implies the activation of the complement system (CS) and then the swelling and damage of vessel mural structures. The complement system (CS) is involved in the pathogenesis of several autoimmune diseases, including systemic vasculitides. This enzymatic system is a part of the innate immune system, and its function is linked to the modulation of the adaptive immunity and in bridging innate and adaptive responses. Its activation is also critical for the development of natural antibodies and T cell response and for the regulation of autoreactive B cells. Complement triggering contributes to inflammation-driven tissue injury, which occurs during the ischemia/reperfusion processes, vasculitides, nephritis, arthritis, and many others diseases. In systemic vasculitides, a group of uncommon diseases characterized by blood vessel inflammation, the contribution of CS in the development of inflammatory damage has been demonstrated. Treatment is mainly based on clinical manifestations and severity of organ involvement. Evidences on the efficacy of traditional immunosuppressive therapies have been collected as well as data from clinical trials that involve the modulation of the CS. In particular in small-medium-vessel vasculitides, the CS represents an attractive target. Herein, we reviewed the pathogenetic role of CS in these systemic vasculitides as urticarial vasculitis, ANCA-associated vasculitides, anti-glomerular basement membrane disease, cryoglobulinaemic vasculitides, Henoch-Schönlein purpura/IgA nephropathy, and Kawasaki disease and therefore its potential therapeutic use in this context.

[Severe pulmonary involvement in hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis (HUV)]

Pulmonary involvement in hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis (HUV) or Mac Duffie syndrome is extremely rare with a poor prognosis. We report the case of a 55-year-old female patient treated for HUV over a period of 20 years. The diagnosis was confirmed on the basis of urticarial lesions, ocular inflammation, positive C1q-p test by immunodiffusion, with low rate of C1q. The patient was treated with cycles of cyclophosphamide, corticoids and rituximab as she developed class III dyspnea (NYHA classification ). The clinico-radiological and functional assessment showed thoracic distension and severe obstructive pulmonary disease which found no significant improvement with systemic treatment Aerosol therapy was started and the patient had a marked clinical improvement. Pulmonary involvement in Mac Duffie hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis worsens the patient short-term vital prognosis. The knowledge of the different types of pulmonary involvement opens new therapeutic prospects.

Urticarial vasculitis in northern Spain: clinical study of 21 cases

Urticarial vasculitis (UV) is a subset of cutaneous vasculitis (CV), characterized clinically by urticarial skin lesions of more than 24 hours' duration and histologically by leukocytoclastic vasculitis. We assessed the frequency, clinical features, treatment, and outcome of a series of patients with UV. We conducted a retrospective study of patients with UV included in a large series of unselected patients with CV from a university hospital. Of 766 patients with CV, UV was diagnosed in 21 (2.7%; 9 male and 12 female patients; median age, 35 yr; range, 1-78 yr; interquartile range, 5-54 yr). Eight of the 21 cases were aged younger than 20 years old. Potential precipitating factors were upper respiratory tract infections and drugs (penicillin) (n = 4; in all cases in patients aged <20 yr), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection (n = 1), and malignancy (n = 1). Besides urticarial lesions, other features such as palpable purpura (n = 7), arthralgia and/or arthritis (n = 13), abdominal pain (n = 2), nephropathy (n = 2), and peripheral neuropathy (n = 1) were observed. Hypocomplementemia (low C4) with low C1q was disclosed in 2 patients. Other abnormal laboratory findings were leukocytosis (n = 7), increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate (n = 6), anemia (n = 4), and antinuclear antibody positivity (n = 2). Treatment included corticosteroids (n = 12), antihistaminic drugs (n = 6), chloroquine (n = 4), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (n = 3), colchicine (n = 2), and azathioprine (n = 1). After a median follow-up of 10 months (interquartile range, 2-38 mo) recurrences were observed in 4 patients. Apart from 1 patient who died because of an underlying malignancy, the outcome was good with full recovery in the remaining patients. In conclusion, our results indicate that UV is rare but not exceptional. In children UV is often preceded by an upper respiratory tract infection. Urticarial lesions and joint manifestations are the most frequent clinical manifestation. Low complement serum levels are observed in a minority of cases. The prognosis is generally good, but depends on the underlying disease.

Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis Syndrome in an 8-year-old Boy: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome is an immune complex-mediated disease of unknown etiology. The clinical course is characterized by urticaria, conjunctivitis, joint pain, and hypocomplementemia. We here report a case of a child with hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome that progressed to nephritis. Renal biopsy was consistent with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis with diffuse subendothelial immune deposits. He responded well to a combination of steroid and mofetil micofenolate.

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome at the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus

Different autoimmune diseases can result in urticarial eruptions, in particular, in the form of such a rare immune disorder as hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS). HUVS can be the debut of diffuse connective tissue disorders, in particular, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). To optimize the diagnostics of this syndrome, the authors describe the course of HUVS in a female patient aged 31 suffering from SLE and characterize particular features of the differential diagnostics of HUVS with skin disorders, in the first place, chronic urticaria. The syndrome is diagnosed clinically and confirmed by histology and laboratory examinations. In addition to urticarial eruptions, HUVS is also characterized by the severe course with systemic manifestations on the part of different organs, reduction in the level of the complimentary components in the serum and detection of specific markers of the disease such as anti-C1q antibodies.

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome: a case report and literature review

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome, as opposed to urticarial vasculitis or urticarial vasculitis syndrome, is a rare disease process where the exact pathophysiology remains unknown. This article discusses the case of a 34-year-old Hispanic man with an ongoing history of chronic urticaria comprising episodes induced by low ambient temperatures, emotional stress, and spontaneous occurrences. This article serves as a consolidated reference for specialists to comprehensively review the plethora of systemic manifestations that may accompany urticarial vasculitis and highlights new systemic complications reported in association with this disease which are also observed in this case.