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[Leukocytoclastic vasculitis due to hypersensitivity to microfilariae]
J Portilla Sogorb1, A Sevilla Llinares, A Carrión
1Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Alicante.
Anales De Medicina Interna (Madrid, Spain : 1984)
|January 1, 1991
Summary
This case study presents a Caucasian girl with vasculitis, polyarthritis, and eosinophilia, diagnosed with Loa Loa filariasis. Filariae should be considered in hypersensitivity vasculitis and eosinophilic vasculitis differential diagnoses.
Area of Science:
- Medical Parasitology
- Rheumatology
- Immunology
Background:
- Filariasis, a parasitic disease, can present with diverse clinical manifestations.
- Hypersensitivity vasculitis and eosinophilic vasculitis are inflammatory conditions affecting blood vessels.
Observation:
- A Caucasian girl presented with leukocytoclastic vasculitis, polyarthritis, and eosinophilia.
- Blood tests confirmed microfilariasis, likely caused by Loa Loa.
Findings:
- The patient exhibited clinical features not previously described in Western literature for filariasis, beyond reactive arthritis.
- Circulating immune complexes are hypothesized as the pathogenic mechanism for the observed symptoms.
Implications:
- This case suggests filariae should be considered a potential cause of hypersensitivity vasculitis.
- Filarial infections warrant inclusion in the differential diagnosis for eosinophilic vasculitis.