A 55-Year-Old Male Presenting With a Lower Extremity Rash: A Case of Immunoglobulin A (IgA) Nephropathy

Abstract

Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy, mesangial deposition of IgA in renal parenchyma, typically presents with hematuria and proteinuria. Leukocytoclastic vasculitis (LCV), a small-vessel vasculitis, can present secondary to IgA. We will discuss a case of secondary IgA nephropathy with concomitant LCV in a patient with reactivated hepatitis C. A 55-year-old male with decompensated alcoholic cirrhosis presented for a bilateral lower-extremity rash. The patient was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy, by kidney biopsy, and skin biopsy showing LCV. Further investigation revealed hepatitis C viral load was 275,000. We present a rare presentation of secondary IgA nephropathy with concomitant LCV, which we hypothesize was secondary to reactivation of hepatitis C.

Keywords: hepatitis c; iga nephropathy; leukocytoclastic vasculitis.