HENOCH-SCHONLEIN PURPURA AND INTRAVENOUS IMMUNOGLOBULINS

Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a vasculitis usually with a benign course. Abdominal symptoms occur in 70% of cases, with possible intussuscepti on or intestinal perforation. There is no clear evidence of the effica cy of a treatment in complicated cases of Henoch-Schonlein purpura. Co rticosteroids improve abdominal pain but they do not have any effect o n renal involvement or prevention of relapses. Intravenous immunoglobu lins have been efficient in some cases with recurrent abdominal sympto ms or progressive renal lesions. We report the case of a 19-year-old p atient with severe abdominal involvement and early renal manifestation s of Henoch-Schonlein disease, rapid and sustained improvement was obt ained by intravenous immunoglobulins given during 48 hours.