Paraneoplastic Vasculitis in a Patient With Breast Cancer at an Unusual Age: A Case Report.

Abstract

We report the case of an 87-year-old woman whose initial presentation was palpable purpura. Henoch-Schönlein purpura was initially diagnosed, for which she received intravenous methylprednisolone and epinastine, resulting in complete remission of the skin lesions. After discontinuation of corticosteroid therapy, she experienced multiple relapses over the ensuing months with an incomplete response to medical treatment. Metastatic breast cancer was diagnosed 7 months later, which retrospectively suggested a paraneoplastic etiology for the vasculitis. Although the association between cutaneous vasculitis and malignancy-particularly hematologic cancers-is well documented, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. The link with breast cancer is rare, though sporadically reported. Vasculitis in this context may occur before, during, or after cancer diagnosis or treatment. Notably, only two cases of breast cancer-associated vasculitis have been reported in patients aged 80 or older. Paraneoplastic vasculitis typically resolves with treatment of the underlying malignancy. However, given the presence of metastatic disease in this patient, immunosuppressive therapy with azathioprine was needed, resulting in complete resolution of lesions.