Ischemic necrosis of bile ducts complicating Schonlein-Henoch purpura

Gastrointestinal complications of Schonlein-Henoch purpura are frequent and sometimes severe. However, there seem to be no reports of liver involvemen t. A child is described in whom Schonlein-Henoch purpura was complicated by bile duct lesions, resulting in biliary cirrhosis and requiring liver tran splantation. At surgical removal, the liver had lesions of bile ducts and o f adjacent small blood vessels in the hilum, very similar to those complica ting hepatic artery thrombosis after liver transplantation. These findings suggest that Schonlein-Henoch purpura can be complicated by vasculitis of t he peribiliary vessels resulting in ischemic necrosis of the bile ducts. Sc honlein-Henoch purpura can be added to the list of causes of ischemic chola ngiopathies.