Colonic Involvement in Adult Patients with Henoch-Schoenlein Purpura

Summary

Henoch-Schoenlein purpura is a haemorrhagic syndrome, rare in the adult but well known in paediatric pathology. The clinical manifestations are usually: arthralgia, skin rash, renal and gastrointestinal involvement. Although the small bowel is more frequently involved, cases of oesophageal, gastroduodenal and colo-rectal localization have been rarely reported.

We describe endoscopic features of two cases of Henoch-Schoenlein syndrome with extensive colonic involvement. No previous endoscopic documentation of this localization has been reported in our available literature.

Key words:

Henoch-Schoenlein purpura - Anaphylactoid purpura - Haemorrhagic syndrome