J Korean Rheum Assoc.  2006 Jun;13(2):177-181.

A Case of Leukocytoclastic Vasculitis after Influenza Vaccination

• Kim HJ
• Park SJ
• Kim JH
• Na IG
• Kim SY

Abstract

We describe a 28 year-old woman who had fever, general myalgia, tender erythematous subcutaneous nodules on whole body skin, and acute pleuritis after influenza vaccination. Temporal association between vaccination and her symptoms and skin biopsy result are in agreement with our diagnosis as leukocytoclastic vasculitis. A review found that there were a few similar cases involving the skin, kidney, and rarely nervous system, mostly with good prognoses. Our patient was treated by a short course of corticosteroid and no recurrence has been observed for five months. Although there is a possibility of an infection, the temporal association, the false-positive HCV ELISA test, and the increased serum IgE were interesting findings, which might account for this leukocytoclastic vasculitis after influenza vaccination.

Keyword

Influenza vaccination; Leukocytoclastic vasculitis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Biopsy
Diagnosis
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Female
Fever
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Influenza, Human*
Kidney
Myalgia
Nervous System
Pleurisy
Prognosis
Recurrence
Skin
Vaccination*
Vasculitis*
Immunoglobulin E