Korean J Dermatol.  2007 Dec;45(12):1325-1328.

A Case of Acute Hemorrhagic Edema of Childhood

• Choi WS
• Kang YS
• Park HS
• Jang SJ
• Lee UH

Abstract

Acute hemorrhagic edema of childhood or infancy (AHE) is a benign form of leukocytoclastic vasculitis with many similarities to Henoch-schonlein purpura (HSP). It occurs in children younger than 2 years and is characterized by abrupt onset of inflammatory edema and ecchymotic purpura in a target or cockade pattern, that resolve spontaneously within 3 weeks. AHE had been considered by some as a variant of HSP which shares certain clinicopathologic features. But most authors have regarded it as an entity distinct from HSP in view of the younger age of patients, lack of visceral involvement, distinctiveness of cutaneous lesions, absence of perivascular IgA on immunofluorescence, and excellent prognosis. We report a typical case of AHE presenting with a cockade or target-like purpura and edema on the face and acral areas with excellent prognosis in a 13-month-old boy.

Keyword

Acute hemorrhagic edema (AHE); Henoch-schonlein purpura; Leukocytoclastic vasculitis

MeSH Terms

Child
Edema*
Fluorescent Antibody Technique
Humans
Immunoglobulin A
Infant
Male
Prognosis
Purpura
Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch
Vasculitis
Immunoglobulin A