Hypocomplementemic Urticarial Vasculitis Syndrome or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Evolution?

Hypocomplementemia urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) is a rare form of systemic vasculitis which is characterized by the presence of urticaria and hypocomplementemia. The presence of recurrent and chronic urticarial rash is the dominant clinical finding in HUVS. Other manifestations including angioedema, arthritis, gastrointestinal symptoms, ocular inflammation, pulmonary involvement, renal involvement, and central nervous system involvement are also seen. Although the pathophysiology of HUVS is yet to be fully understood, it has been demonstrated that immune complex-mediated injury is the predominant mechanism responsible for severe systemic manifestations; a mechanism of injury similar to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). HUVS shared many clinicopathological features with SLE and it is prudent to question whether HUVS is a separate disease entity or SLE in evolution. Herein we present a case of a male patient who was diagnosed with SLE a year after being diagnosed with HUVS.