Korean J Med.  2011 Jun;80(6):739-744.

A Case of Pulmonary Hemorrhage through Pulmonary Involvement of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

• Kwon YJ
• Chung SJ
• Park MC

Abstract

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is an immunologically mediated systemic vasculitis of small blood vessels that primarily involves the skin, gastrointestinal tract, joints, and kidneys. HSP is a relatively common vasculitic syndrome in children, which usually resolves within several weeks, and requires no treatment. The pulmonary parenchymal involvement of HSP is a rare complication that predominantly occurs in adolescents and adults. Mortality following HSP pulmonary presentation is extremely high. Here, we report a case of HSP combined with pulmonary hemorrhage as a presentation of the vasculitic involvement of the lung. Recently, we experienced a case of a 49-year-old male patient with HSP who presented with palpable purpura, enteritis, and glomerulonephritis. Following the diagnosis of HSP, the patient developed sudden pulmonary hemorrhage due to the pulmonary involvement of vasculitis, and recovered following glucocorticoid therapy.

Keyword

Henoch-Schonlein purpura; Pulmonary hemorrhage; Glucocorticoids

MeSH Terms

Adolescent
Adult
Blood Vessels
Child
Enteritis
Gastrointestinal Tract
Glomerulonephritis
Glucocorticoids
Hemorrhage
Humans
Joints
Kidney
Lung
Male
Middle Aged
Purpura
Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch
Skin
Systemic Vasculitis
Vasculitis
Glucocorticoids