A Rare Complication of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura/IgA Vasculitis in an Adult Woman After COVID-19 Infection

Man-Kuang Chang; Leonardo Chang; Hsiao-Yen Kuo; Carlos A Arango

doi:10.7759/cureus.42063

A Rare Complication of Henoch-Schönlein Purpura/IgA Vasculitis in an Adult Woman After COVID-19 Infection

Cureus. 2023 Jul 18;15(7):e42063. doi: 10.7759/cureus.42063. eCollection 2023 Jul.

Authors

Man-Kuang Chang¹, Leonardo Chang², Hsiao-Yen Kuo³, Carlos A Arango⁴

Affiliations

¹ Infectious Diseases, Baptist Health System, Jacksonville, USA.
² Biochemistry, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA.
³ Internal Medicine, Veterans Affairs Clinic, Jacksonville, USA.
⁴ Pediatrics, University of Florida, Jacksonville, USA.

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection can affect multiple organs due to activation of an inflammatory response. One of the key components of this response is the activation of immunoglobulin A (IgA), thus causing endothelial injury and inflammation. Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) has been rarely reported in adult patients as a complication of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. In this report, we present a case of HSP occurring one week after the diagnosis of COVID-19 in a 23-year-old woman. Her symptoms included nausea, vomiting, diffused abdominal pain, joint pain, hematuria, and palpable purpura of the lower extremities. She was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone sodium succinate, followed by oral prednisone therapy, which resulted in clinical improvement, including resolution of abdominal and joint pain as well as skin rashes, without remaining renal complication.

Keywords: covid; covid-19; gross hematuria; henoch-schönlein purpura; hsp; iga vasculitis; igav; immunoglobulin a; palpable purpura.

Publication types

Case Reports