title: Henoch-Schönlein purpura as a rare cause of an acute abdomen.
abstract: A 52-year-old man presented with a purpuric rash affecting his legs and hypertension. He was diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein purpura and discharged with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Three weeks later, he presented again with loss of appetite and vomiting before developing abdominal pain with pyrexia of 38.5°C and rigors. On examination, he was hypotensive with a distended abdomen and a national early warning score of 6. Computed tomography revealed enteropathy of Henoch-Schönlein purpura. The patient deteriorated and went for an emergency laparotomy, where 30cm of ischaemic small bowel was resected.
authors.affiliation: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Davies
authors.affiliation: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nanda Kumar
authors.affiliation: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , UK.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shetty
authors.affiliation: Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust , UK.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Gastrointestinal surgery; General surgery; Henoch–Schönlein purpura; Vasculitis