title: Necrotizing vasculitis with a polyarteritis nodosa-like pattern and selective immunoglobulin A deficiency: case report and review of the literature.
abstract: Selective immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgAD) is a primary immunodeficiency disease characterized by low levels (< 7 mg/dl) of serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A and normal serum levels of IgG and IgM. Patients with IgAD have increased risk for recurrent respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, autoimmune disease, asthma and allergy. A 26-year-old woman was admitted with sudden onset of painful cutaneous lesions on her lower extremities, pyrexia and arthromyalgia. Her medical history was remarkable for recurrent respiratory tract infections, self-limited episodes of acute diarrhea, atopy, splenomegaly and a 4-year history of a lung granulomatous lesion. Laboratory and imaging tests ruled out severe life-threatening infection, connective tissue disease and neoplasm. Serum protein electrophoresis showed a low IgA serum level (6.67 mg/dl), with normal serum levels of IgG and IgM, conducting to a diagnosis of selective IgAD. A skin biopsy showed necrotizing vasculitis without any sign of internal organ disease. We report a patient with IgAD and granulomatous involvement of lungs, spleen and medium-sized arteries of the skin. Although IgAD results from a failure of B-cell differentiation, we propose that deregulated immune response with production of cross-reactive antibodies and hyperstimulation of T cells and macrophages could contribute to this widespread granulomatous reaction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Hospital Juan Canalejo, La Coruña, Spain.
authors.forename: Sabela
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Paradela
authors.forename: Felipe
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Sacristán
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Almagro
authors.forename: Víctor G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Prieto
authors.forename: Sara M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Kantrow
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fonseca
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015769:Granuloma, Respiratory Tract / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D017098:IgA Deficiency / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D009336:Necrosis; D010488:Polyarteritis Nodosa / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D007070:Immunoglobulin A