Microscopic polyangiitis presenting urticarial erythema and Henoch-Schonlein purpura: two case reports

Abstract

Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) is well known as a life-threatening member of a group of systemic vasculitis diseases. We report two cases of MPA. Case 1 was a 79-year-old-man who had been diagnosed with anti-neutrophil-cytoplasmic-antibody associated vasculitis (ANCA associated vasculitis) with alveolar hemorrhage and crescentric glomerulonephritis (CrGN). He presented with urticarial erythema in the abdomen, legs and back. The skin biopsy specimens showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis on the upper dermis. Case 2 was a 74-year-old-man, who presented with purpura on the abdomen, buttocks and legs that were similar to Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP). He also suffered from interstinal pneumonia. His renal biopsy specimens showed glomerulosclerosis and the peripheral pattern anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (P-ANCA) was positive. We reviewed the skin eruptions that had been reported with MPA, including our cases.