Henoch-Schönlein vasculitis as a manifestation of IgA-associated disease in cirrhosis

Cirrhosis has been associated with a variety of glomerular lesions that generally include deposits of IgA in the mesangium. However, loss of renal function secondary to IgA deposition in cirrhotics is infrequent. An unusual patient who developed rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis followed by leukocytoclastic vasculitis with IgA deposition on skin biopsy is presented. We postulate that this is an example of Henoch-Schönlein purpura occurring secondary to altered IgA processing in cirrhosis.