New insights on IgA vasculitis with underlying solid tumor: a nationwide French study of 30 patients.

IgA vasculitis (IgAV) frequently occurs during or after a mucosal infection; it also rarely occurs in patients with cancer. We hypothesized that cancer could impact the baseline characteristics and/or outcome of vasculitis. We aimed to describe the presentation of IgAV in patients with cancer (IgAV ca+) compared to patients without cancer. We conducted a nationwide retrospective study of adult patients in France who presented with both IgAV and cancer. Baseline characteristics were described and compared with those of the 260 patients included in a nationwide French IgAV study. Thirty patients were included. The mean age was 69 ± 12 years; 80% were men. Compared to patients without underlying cancer, IgAV ca+ patients were older (69 ± 12 vs. 50 ± 18 years; p < 0.0001) and they presented more frequently with necrotic purpura (53 vs. 26%; p < 0.002) and intra-alveolar hemorrhage (10 vs. 0.5%; p < 0.0001). IgAV ca+ patients frequently had elevated serum IgA levels (79 vs. 53%; p < 0.034); most (n = 22, 73%) had adenocarcinoma or urothelial carcinoma involving the large intestines (n = 6), bladder (n = 5), and lung (n = 5). Most IgAV ca+ patients had progressive cancer (n = 21); a minority had metastatic disease (n = 2) at IgAV diagnosis. After a median follow-up of 3 months, 8 deaths were observed but none was related to IgAV. Compared to their noncancer counterpart, patients with IgAV related to cancer were older and more frequently presented with necrotizing purpura, intra-alveolar hemorrhage, and elevated serum IgA levels. Adult patients with IgAV and these latter characteristics should be carefully screened for cancer. Key Points • Clinical and biological characteristics of patients presenting with IgAV are distinct depending on the underlying cause of vasculitis related to cancer. • Patients with IgAV related to cancer are older, and compared to their counterparts without IgAV, they present more frequently with necrotic purpura, alveolar hemorrhage, and elevated serum IgA levels. • All adult patients with IgAV should be screened for cancer, and there should be a focus on elderly male patients presenting with necrotic purpura and/or alveolar hemorrhage.

Citation

Antoine Hankard, Jean-Marie Michot, Benjamin Terrier, Benoît Brihaye, Johan Chanal, Christian Combe, Alexandre Karras, Geoffrey Urbanski, Zahir Amoura, Anne-Sophie Darrigade, Alban Deroux, Florent Guerville, Le Sébastien Burel, Gwénola Maigné, Arsène Mekinian, Guillaume Moulis, Etienne Riviere, Carole Vandamme-Giard, Francois Maillot, Hubert De Boysson, Achille Aouba, Alexandra Audemard-Verger, French Vasculitis Study Group (FVSG). New insights on IgA vasculitis with underlying solid tumor: a nationwide French study of 30 patients. Clinical rheumatology. 2021 May;40(5):1933-1940

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PMID: 33099711

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