2007 Volume 6 Issue 6 Pages 572-576
We report a case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) with severe abdominal symptoms and purpura, resistant to systemic steroid therapy. A 17-year-old woman who had noticed purpura on her foot with no precedent episode, and the skin lesions exacerbated gradually. She came to our hospital because of abdominal pain and arthralgia. A diagnosis of HSP was made based on the clinical symptoms as well as histopathological examination showing leukocytoclastic vasculitis. The patient’s serum level of factor XIII activity dropped to 32% of normal value. Systemic prednisolone treatment was commenced, however, there was no improvement of abdominal pain, proteinuria and purpura. Additional treatment with intravenous factor XIII and steroid pulse therapy were effective to these symptoms.
