Back To Classification Criteria

Age at disease onset >16 years

Development of symptoms after age 16

Medication at disease onset

Medication was taken at the onset of symptoms that may have been a precipitating factor

Palpable purpura

Slightly elevated purpuric rash over one or more areas of the skin; does not blanch with pressure and is not related to thrombocytopenia

Maculopapular rash

Flat and raised lesions of various sizes over one or more areas of the skin

Biopsy including arteriole and venule

Histologic changes showing granulocytes in a perivascular or extravascular location

* For purposes of classification, a patient is said to have hypersensitivity vasculitis if at least 3 of these 5 criteria are present. The presence of any 3 or more criteria yields a sensitivity of 71.0% and a specificity of 83.9%.
+ This is criterion 20 from Table 1.

Calabrese LH, Michel BA, Bloch DA, Arend WP, Edworthy SM, Fauci AS, et al. The American College of Rheumatology 1990 criteria for the classification of hypersensitivity vasculitis. Arthritis Rheum 1990;33:1108---13.