Kidney involvement in hypocomplementemic urticaria-vasculitis syndrome--a simulated systemic lupus erythematosis
Brass, H.; Uppenkamp, M.; Voigtländer, V.
Medizinische Klinik 96(4): 238-241
2001
ISSN/ISBN: 0723-5003 PMID: 11370607 Document Number: 538246
We report a case of hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis (HUV). The clinical course was characterized by urticaria, angio-edema, pericarditis, joint pain and conjunctivitis. The laboratory findings revealed moderate proteinuria, erythrocyturia, normal renal function, normotension, reduction of C3, C4 and C1q complement with elevated C1q antibodies. Antinuclear antibodies were inconstantly positive. Renal biopsy showed a mild form of membranous glomerulonephritis. Despite intensive therapeutic measures (dapsone, immunosuppressives and immunoglobulins), relapses of urticaria occurred frequently. HUV is probably a minor form of systemic lupus erythematosus.