title: Hypocomplementaemic urticarial vasculitis, interstitial lung disease and hepatitis C.
abstract: A 42-year-old man developed persistent urticaria and angio-oedema responsive to systemic steroids. A skin biopsy revealed leucocytoclastic vasculitis. C4 levels were consistently decreased in the setting of a mildly elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Pulmonary function studies revealed a restrictive pattern, and there was eosinophilia in bronchial lavage fluid. Antibody to hepatitis C virus was positive, and there was mild elevation of serum aminotransferase. We believe that this case represents another possible manifestation of immunological disease associated with hepatitis C virus infection.
authors.affiliation: St Vincent's Hospital, New York, NY 10011, USA.
authors.forename: R Y
authors.initials: RY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Caren
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Menikoff
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000799:Angioedema / Q000209:etiology*; D003181:Complement C4 / Q000172:deficiency*; D006526:Hepatitis C / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D003181:Complement C4