Description
Described originally in the 19th century, Henoch- Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a systemic vasculitis characterised by purpura, arthralgia, gastrointestinal involvement, and nephritis. HSP is well known as a disease of childhood, and also occurs in adults. The adult variant of HSP shares many features with childhood-onset HSP but there are also important differences in clinical features. The prognosis also differs in adults and children. Overall prognosis in children is excellent, with morbidity and mortality being related in the short term to gastrointestinal and in the long term to renal involvement. In adults, the general prognosis is good, with the major determinant of long-term outcome being renal involvement. The evidence suggesting that renal involvement is more frequent and more severe in adults underlies their worse prognosis.
