Extreme gonococcal susceptibility associated with acquired complement deficiency secondary to hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis and systemic lupus erythematosus

Gonococcal infection is rarely associated with septic shock. We describe a recurrent case of septic shock related to disseminated gonococcemia in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis, and discuss the implication of profound acquired complement deficiency secondary to these auto-immune diseases. This case raises the question of systematic antibioprophylaxis in patients with acquired complement deficiency.

Automated summary

This article describes a recurrent case of septic shock related to disseminated gonococcemia in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis, and discusses the implications of profound acquired complement deficiency secondary to these autoimmune diseases. The case raises the question of systematic antibiotic prophylaxis in patients with acquired complement deficiency.