Abstract

RIVAS GONZALEZ, Ana María; VELASQUEZ FRANCO, Carlos Jaime; PINTO PENARANDA, Luis Fernando  and  MARQUEZ, Javier Darío. Urticarial Vasculitis. Rev.Colomb.Reumatol. [online]. 2009, vol.16, n.2, pp.154-166. ISSN 0121-8123.

Urticarial vasculitis is a clinic-pathologic entity typified by recurrent episodes of urticaria that have the histopathologic features of leukocytoclastic vasculitis. Only a minority of patients with chronic urticarial lesions have urticarial vasculitis (approximately 5%). Even though the definition of vasculitis has varied, in this article, we adhere to the concept that leukocytoclasis and fibrinoid deposits are the most important features to define this entity. Classically, urticarial vasculitis manifest with recurrent erythematosus wheals that last for more than 4-6 weeks, the individual lesions persist more than 24 hours and leave residual hyperpigmentation. Because clinical characteristics of urticarial vasculitis may overlap with those of common urticaria, confirmation of the diagnosis requires a lesional skin biopsy. Urticarial vasculitis can be classified as normocomplementemic or hypocomplementemic depending on seric complement levels. Only a minority of patients with hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis fulfill diagnostic criteria for hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome. Hypocomplementemic patients have the propensity to have more severe multi-organ involvement and frequently develop systemic lupus erythematous when they are followed in time, in special when they have anti-C1q antibodies.

Keywords : urticaria; vasculitis; lupus erythematosus systemic.

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