Context: Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), a systemic IgA vascultitis, is uncommon in adults, with an incidence rate of 0.1 to 1.2 per million in adults over 20 years old. This vasculitic syndrome can present as an uncommon cause of intestinal obstruction in older patients. We report a case of an older woman with HSP presenting with small bowel obstruction and vasculitic rash.
Case report: We report a 67-year-old woman who presented with small bowel obstruction and skin rash. Skin biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis with +IgA granular deposition within the walls of superficial dermal vessels. Kidney biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of HSP with mild mesangial proliferative IgA nephropathy. Her abdominal pain and small bowel obstruction were improved with conservative treatment. She continued to do well with normal kidney function at a 3-month follow-up visit.
Conclusion: HSP, a systemic IgA vasculitis, is a predominantly pediatric vasculitis and is uncommon in adults. In adults, the disease process is identical to that in children. However, gastrointestinal manifestation is less common in older patients, and bowel perforation and obstruction are rare. Intestinal obstruction with skin rash and renal involvement should raise suspicions of HSP.
Keywords: Henoch-Schönlein purpura; Intestinal obstruction; Vasculitis.