Hypergammaglobulinaemic purpura associated with alcoholic liver cirrhosis

Summary Hypergammaglobulinaemic purpura (HP) is commonly found in Sjögren’s syndrome. We report a rare association of HP arising in a patient with alcoholic liver cirrhosis. A 65‐year‐old man presented with palpable purpura on the legs. Histological examination of a biopsy taken from the purpura found leucocytoclastic vasculitis in the superficial and mid‐dermis. The activity of the vasculitic skin lesions correlated with liver dysfunction. Increased IgA and IgG levels, and hypocomplementaemia, may account for the pathogenesis of the hypergammaglobulinaemic immune complex‐mediated vasculitis in this case.