A Retrospective Cohort Study Investigating Cutaneous Vasculitis in the Setting of COVID-19 Notes Higher Rates of IgA Vasculitis

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.