Interferon α2a therapy for urticarial vasculitis with angioedema apparently following hepatitis a infection

A 68-year-old woman with a 5 yr history of chronic recurrert urticarial vasculitis wish angioedema, refractory to conventional treatment including glucocorticosteroids, H1 and H2 blockers, non steroidal antiinflammatory agents, methotrexate, hydroxychloroquine, dapsone, azathioprine, intravenous gamma globulin, and plasma exchange, was successfully treated with interferon α2a. The cause of the urticarial vasculitis remains unknown, although its onset followed a hepatitis A infection. This is the first report of the successful use of interferon α for chronic urticarial vasculitis/angioedema.