Joint disease and Henoch–Schönlein Purpura: a case review

Abstract

The Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) is the most common type of vasculitis in childhood. 200years ago, William Heberden described the first case in a five-year-old boy with purpuric exanthema, macroscopic hematuria, abdominal pain, bloodys tools and vomiting. In 1837, Johann Schönlein added the joint component and called this entity “rheumatic peliosis” or “Purple rubra” years later, Eduard Heinrish Henoch, student of Schönlein, completed his description.1 The most common clinical manifestations of this entity are: palpable purpura, arthritis, abdominal pain, intestinal bleeding and nephritis, although any organ can be affected. A great number of studies, published between 1960 and 1970, established that IgA had a great role in the pathogenesis of HSP, deposits of IgA were found in the renal mesangium and dermal vessels, also elevated serum concentrations of IgA and circulating immune complexes were found.1