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Recognition of Epidermal Transglutaminase by IgA and Tissue Transglutaminase 2 Antibodies in a Rare Case of Rhesus Dermatitis
Published on: December 15, 2011
Hypergammaglobulinaemic purpura associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis
1Department of Dermatology, Ogikubo Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. yfutei@ogikubo-hospital.or.jp
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.
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