Immunoglobulin a (IgA) Vasculitis in the Elderly

IgA vasculitis is a small vessel vasculitis mediated by the deposition of IgA immune complexes. It mostly occurs in children and is rare in adults, with increased severity and mortality in the latter. Its aetiology remains largely unknown, and its prognosis depends primarily on the extent of renal involvement. We present the case of a 71-year-old woman with purpuric lesions in both lower and upper limbs associated with fever, abdominal pain, vomiting and blood in her stools for the past month. The patient was diagnosed with IgA vasculitis and the full systemic involvement (renal, dermatological, intestinal, and cerebral) of the disease was identified with excellent response to parenteral corticotherapy.