Anaphylactoid Purpura in Children (Schönlein-Henoch Syndrome)

Abstract

Introduction Over 150 years have passed since Heberden¹and Willan²first described patients with peculiar visceral crises associated with purpura and edema of the feet and hands. This striking syndrome has interested many investigators. Schönlein³described the arthritic component associated with purpura in 1837, calling it "peliosis rheumatica"; Henoch⁴added his classic description of four children with skin lesions associated with colicky abdominal pain, gastrointestinal hemorrhage, and joint pain in 1874; and Osler,^5-8in a series of articles between 1895 and 1914 characterized it as a disease entity with variable symptoms, all of which he felt were the result of anaphylaxis. The term "anaphylactoid" purpura was first used by Frank⁹in 1915, and this idea was developed further by Glanzmann¹⁰in 1920. Sixty years ago, Henoch¹¹noted that renal involvement was an important part of this type of purpura, and several years