MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Allergic vasculitis

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Allergic vasculitis

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Vasculitis on the palm

Vasculitis

Vasculitis, urticarial on the hand

Alternative names Return to top

Vasculitis - allergic hypersensitivity; Cutaneous Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis

Definition Return to top

Allergic vasculitis is hypersensitivity to a drug or foreign agent that leads to inflammation and damage to blood vessels of the skin.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

Vasculitis occurs because of inflammation and damage to blood vessels. The inflammation of allergic vasculitis is the result of an allergic reaction to a drug or other foreign agent.

Symptoms Return to top

skin lesions usually located on legs, buttocks, or trunk
palpable (able to be felt with the fingers) purpura
- multiple papules (small, solid, raised skin areas)
- purpura (bleeding into the skin)
blisters on the skin
urticaria (hives), may last longer than 24 hours
necrotic ulcers (open sores with dead tissue)

Signs and tests Return to top

The diagnosis is primarily based on a history of skin lesions that develop after exposure to medications or a foreign substance (antigen) and the pattern of symptoms.

The ESR (sed rate) may be elevated.
Skin biopsy shows vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels).

Treatment Return to top

Treatment is aimed at reducing the inflammation, allowing the natural healing process to occur. If possible, stop exposure to the causative medication (or other antigen). Aspirin or corticosteroids may be prescribed to reduce inflammation of the blood vessels. (DO NOT give aspirin to children except as advised by the health care provider.) In severe cases, treatment with corticosteroids may be necessary.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

Allergic vasculitis usually resolves in time.

Complications Return to top

permanent damage to the blood vessels or skin with scarring
vasculitis affecting the internal organs (kidney, bone, and so on)

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call for an appointment with your health care provider if symptoms indicate allergic vasculitis may be present.

Prevention Return to top

Avoid exposure to medications to which there are known allergies.

Update Date: 8/3/2003

Updated by: Megan Clowse, M.D., Division of Rheumatology, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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