Low Back Pain and Swelling as an Atypical Presentation of IgA Vasculitis

Clay T Winkler; Raymond W Dobson; Michael J Tranovich

doi:10.5811/cpcem.2019.11.44574

Low Back Pain and Swelling as an Atypical Presentation of IgA Vasculitis

Clin Pract Cases Emerg Med. 2020 Apr 14;4(2):241-243. doi: 10.5811/cpcem.2019.11.44574. eCollection 2020 May.

Authors

Clay T Winkler¹, Raymond W Dobson², Michael J Tranovich³

Affiliations

¹ Prisma Health - University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Columbia, South Carolina.
² West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, West Virginia.
³ Ohio Valley Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine, Wheeling, West Virginia.

Abstract

Introduction: Immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgA vasculitis), formerly Henoch-Schonlein purpura, is the most common vasculitis in children.

Case report: A 6-year-old female presented with low back pain and swelling, difficulty ambulating, and rash two weeks after a respiratory infection. She was approached with a broad differential and ultimately diagnosed with IgA vasculitis.

Discussion: Cutaneous manifestations, arthralgias, renal and gastrointestinal involvement are the most common presenting signs of IgA vasculitis. Only two cases of IgA vasculitis associated with lumbar pain and swelling were identified in the literature.

Conclusion: While rash and joint pain are common presenting signs of IgA vasculitis, practitioners should be aware it can present atypically.

Keywords: HSP; Henoch-Schonlein purpura; IgA vasculitis; lumbar swelling.

Publication types

Case Reports