[Schoenlein-Henoch purpura in adulthood (gastrointestinal manifestation and endoscopy)].

During a 15-year-period 62 adult patients were admitted with diagnosis of Schoenlein-Henoch purpura in our hospital. 25 female and 37 male patients ranged from 30-87 years (mean: 59.5 years) presenting with cutaneous, joint, renal and particularly abdominal involvement were investigated retrospectively. During the course of the disease, all patients developed purpuric rash (100 %), 14 (22,5 %) patients had joint symptoms and renal involvement occurred in 12 (19,3 %) patients. In this study, we discuss 15 (24 %) patients with gastrointestinal symptoms appearing in Henoch's purpura. Analysis of the gastrointestinal clinical features revealed: Abdominal pain 13 (86 %), massive colorectal bleeding 3 (20 %), occult blood loss 10 (66 %) vomiting 6 (40 %) and diarrhea in 3 (20 %) patients. Surgical consultation was obtained for 4 of the 15 patients and laparotomy was performed in 2 patients. All the patients underwent lower and upper endoscopic examination, in 3 cases the authors saw purpuric mucosal lesions in duodenum and in 8 patients were also found coin-like elevated lesions, additionally, biopsy from colonic lesions showed leukocytoclastic vasculitis. It is concluded that endoscopy may play a very important role in the diagnosis and treatment of Schoenlein-Henoch purpura.