title: Hypergammaglobulinaemic purpura associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.
abstract: Hypergammaglobulinaemic purpura (HP) is commonly found in Sjögren's syndrome. We report a rare association of HP arising in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. A 65-year-old man presented with palpable purpura on the legs. Histological examination of a biopsy taken from the purpura found leucocytoclastic vasculitis in the superficial and mid-dermis. The activity of the vasculitic skin lesions correlated with liver dysfunction. Increased IgA and IgG levels, and hypocomplementaemia, may account for the pathogenesis of the hypergammaglobulinaemic immune complex-mediated vasculitis in this case.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Ogikubo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. yfutei@ogikubo-hospital.or.jp
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Futei
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D006801:Humans; D006942:Hypergammaglobulinemia / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000378:metabolism; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000378:metabolism; D008104:Liver Cirrhosis, Alcoholic / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D011693:Purpura / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007074:Immunoglobulin G