Pulmonary Hemorrhaging as a Fatal Complication of IgA Vasculitis

A 64-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for purpuric rash, joint pain, and a fever. He had earlier undergone a follow-up examination for interstitial lung disease. At the current visit, the diagnosis was immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis, based on skin and renal biopsy findings. He developed sudden breathlessness and hemoptysis. Chest computed tomography revealed ground glass opacity in the right lower lung fields, suggesting pulmonary hemorrhaging associated with IgA vasculitis. Despite steroid and cyclophosphamide therapy, and plasma exchange, he died 52 days after admission. Early aggressive therapies may be recommended for old patients with IgA vasculitis who have an additional comorbidities.