A Retrospective Cohort Study Investigating Cutaneous Vasculitis in the Setting of COVID-19 Notes Higher Rates of IgA Vasculitis
Description
We aimed to evaluate this relationship, focusing on cutaneous vasculitis’s clinical presentation and specifically immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis, given the latter’s association with infection and potential systemic ramifications. To our knowledge, this is the first study of its kind in the United States, with several ethnic representations. Frequency of IgA-associated vasculitis cases within our COVID-19 cohort is similar to rates previously noted. Similarly, our study found that lower extremity involvement is most common. Earlier work found a median time of 11.5 and 7 days from vaccination/infection to symptom onset, respectively; our study found a longer lag time of 19.5 and 31 days. We additionally noted significantly higher prevalence of renal involvement, potentially higher prevalence of blistering disease, and significantly increased need for systemic corticosteroids in COVID-associated cases. Our study suggests dermatologists should consider obtaining direct immunofluorescence studies to investigate for IgA vasculitis when encountering vasculitis in the setting of COVID-19 and to closely monitor these patients for renal disease.