[Gastrointestinal involvement and the response to dapsone in a case of the urticarial vasculitis syndrome]

A case of urticarial vasculitis syndrome is described in which the gastrointestinal disease was the main clinical manifestation. The gastroduodenal barium meal demonstrated signs compatible with intestinal ischemia which reversed upon medical treatment. The colonoscopy with biopsy showed changes compatible with unspecific colitis. The role of reversible acute vasculitis as a pathogenic factor implicated in the gastrointestinal manifestations in this entity is discussed. Although the response to treatment with corticoids and cochicine was not constant, there was good response to dapsone in successive relapses of the disease. Despite some antibodies becoming positive during the third year of follow up, the patient did not fulfill the clinical criteria for the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus.