Associated symptoms

The Purpura Schönlein-Henoch affects different organs. The skin is always affected with characteristic punctiform bleeding (petechiae) and redness, especially on the buttocks and shinbone. The bleedings also occur in the mucous membranes of other organs.

In the gastrointestinal tract, this leads to bloody stools and colicky abdominal pain. In affected joints, swelling is usually seen on both sides due to edema, which is accompanied by pain. In about 50% of cases, the kidneys are also affected, in the form of purpura-Schönlein-Henoch nephritis.

Hematuria, i.e. blood in the urine, is caused by bleeding. However, small amounts of blood may also be involved, so that it is not always visible and can only be detected by examining the urine. The lungs (bleeding) and the central nervous system (brain, spinal cord) are rarely affected by Purpura Schönlein-Henoch, although bleeding in the brain and behavioral disorders of the child can occur.

The symptoms usually occur suddenly and often following an infection of the upper respiratory tract. Nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney. If the kidney is involved, it can also occur in the context of purpura Schönlein-Henoch (purpura Schönlein-Henoch nephritis).

Typical symptoms of purpura-Schönlein-Henoch nephritis are blood in the urine (hematuria), proteinuria, i.e. increased protein levels in the urine, increased blood pressure due to the nephritis (renal hypertension) and edema. A rare but dangerous complication of Purpura Schönlein-Henoch is rapid-progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). In this case, nephritis leads to the destruction of kidney tissue, which can lead to terminal kidney failure and thus be life-threatening.

Treatment and therapy of Purpura Schönlein Henoch

The therapy of Purpura Schönlein-Henoch is symptomatic, since the exact cause is not known and cannot be treated. In the case of a simple course, without organ involvement, often no therapy is necessary. Possible pain can be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen.

If the skin is more severely affected, glucocorticoid-containing ointments can be applied. In more severe cases, with organ involvement, intravenous glucocorticoid shock therapy is used.Glucocorticoids, such as prednisone, are able to inhibit inflammatory processes and can thus counteract the progression of the disease in the case of Purpura Schönlein-Henoch. Shock therapy is the short-term administration of a drug in high concentrations.

In rare cases, a chronic progression of the disease can occur. Here, in addition to glucocorticoid therapy, immunosuppressive drugs such as azathioprine are also used. These suppress the normal function of the immune system to stop inflammatory processes. Should kidney failure occur during the course of the Purpura Schönlein-Henoch, acute dialysis is also used to temporarily replace kidney function.