Low-complement urticarial vasculitis

BACKGROUND: Low-complement urticarial vasculitis is an uncommon condition a ssociating urticaria, glomerulonephritis, obstructive ventilatorydisorders, and anti-Clq antibodies. CASE REPORT: We report a case in a 34-year-old woman who developed urticari a with purpura, membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (creatinine 238 mu mol/l) and bronchial obstruction with bronchectasia. Total complement and the a fraction were low. Anti-Clq antibodies were found in the serum and an ti-DNA antibodies were negative. Aggravation of the respiratory and renal f ailure progressed despite corticosteroid therapy, leading to death at 4 mon ths. DISCUSSION: Bronchial obstruction in low-complement urticarial vasculitis r esults from emphysema and is often life-threatening Our case exhibited an u nusual feature due to the lack of radiodetectable emphysema, the presence o f bronchectasia and the rapid degradation of the respiratory function.