Lower brachial plexopathy in a child with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura is characterized by nonthrombocytopenic purpura with multisystem involvement. Nervous system involvement was reported, characterized by headaches, mental-status changes, seizures, paresis, coma, or encephalopathy. Peripheral neuropathy is rarely reported. We describe a 12-year-old boy with Henoch-Schönlein purpura who presented with abdominal pain and underwent a laparatomy before the onset of palpable purpuric rash. Neuropathic findings in the left lower brachial plexus developed while he was receiving steroid treatment for gastrointestinal involvement. He responded well to intravenous pulse steroid therapy. Both sensory and motor dysfunction returned to normal after 3 months of treatment. His steroid dose was gradually withdrawn and stopped. He was symptom-free at month 12 of follow-up. Copyright 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.