Which condition is characterized by increased ESR and low complement levels?

The condition characterized by increased ESR (erythrocyte sedimentation rate) and low complement levels is hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis. This condition is associated with systemic inflammation that leads to elevated ESR, indicating an inflammatory process occurring in the body. The low complement levels reflect complement consumption, which is typical in vasculitis conditions.

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis is a specific type of urticarial reaction associated with systemic disease, where immune complexes may lead to vasculitis symptoms, skin rashes, and urticaria. In this scenario, the visual manifestations of urticaria occur alongside systemic features that can affect complement levels.

In contrast, chronic urticaria typically does not show significant changes in ESR or complement levels since it often involves mast cell activation without the systemic inflammatory changes observed in vasculitis. Angioedema results from acute allergic reactions or non-allergic processes and does not generally relate to changes in ESR or complement levels. Anaphylactic shock is an acute, severe allergic reaction that leads to rapid immune responses but is not associated with the chronic inflammatory markers seen in conditions like hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis.