Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis Following COVID-19 Infection in an Adolescent Girl

Immunoglobulin A vasculitis, formerly known as Henoch-Schoenlein purpura, is a rare acute auto-immune condition often associated with infections. We describe an adolescent girl who had recently recovered from COVID-19 infection. She presented with painless hematuria, high blood pressure, purpuric skin rash, bilateral ankle pain and swelling, abdominal pain, and inability to walk. She was admitted and clinically diagnosed with immunoglobulin A vasculitis and started on steroid treatment, to which there was a dramatic response, only to relapse as the steroid was being tapered off. Treatment with azathioprine as a steroid-sparing agent led to complete remission without recurrence. This case also suggests that SARS-CoV-2 infection may trigger the development of autoimmune diseases.