A case of IgA vasculitis developing in a patient with Crohn’s disease treated with adalimumab

This study aimed to investigate a suggestive case of IgA vasculitis that developed following acute tonsillitis in a patient with Crohn’s disease treated with adalimumab. IgA vasculitis and Crohn’s disease can both cause abdominal pain, joint pain, and erythema, making an early diagnosis difficult. When they occur together, it can be challenging to determine which is the primary condition. Due to similar symptoms, a careful assessment and thorough understanding of each disease’s characteristics are essential for an accurate diagnosis and proper management. In this case, the overlapping of immunological events due to anti-tumor necrosis factor-ɑ (TNF-ɑ) agents and infection, in addition to pre-existing immune abnormalities, may be contributing factors to the development of IgA vasculitis. Based on this experience, we suggest that patients with inflammatory bowel disease receiving anti-TNF-ɑ agents should be monitored not only for the relapse of their underlying disease but also for the development of IgA vasculitis following tonsillitis.