-Case Reports-

The Diagnostic Usefulness of Video Capsule Endoscopy in Adolescent Immunoglobulin A Vasculitis (Henoch-Schönlein Purpura)

Min Li¹, Tokuya Omi¹, Yoko Matano¹, Shunji Fujimori² and Seiji Kawana¹

¹Department of Dermatology, Nippon Medical School
²Department of Gastroenterology, Nippon Medical School

Immunoglobulin (Ig) A vasculitis (IgAV), previously known as Henoch-Schönlein purpura, is a systemic IgA-mediated leukocytoclastic vasculitis that usually affects children. We report the usefulness of video capsule endoscopy in 2 adolescent patients with IgAV having gastrointestinal involvement. Both patient 1, a 15-year-old girl, and patient 2, a 14-year-old boy, presented with purpuric rash and abdominal pain. Video capsule endoscopy showed multiple areas of purpuric erythema throughout the small bowel in both patients and showed multiple ulcers with bleeding in patient 2. Patient 1 responded well to oral prednisolone at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day. However, in patient 2, prednisolone at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg/day failed to control the symptoms; therefore, the dose was increased to 1 mg/kg/day to provide relief. Video capsule endoscopy was safe in both cases and produced no side effects. In conclusion, video capsule endoscopy is a useful tool for evaluating small bowel lesions in patients with IgAV and provides valuable information for the treatment of IgAV with gastrointestinal involvement.

J Nippon Med Sch 2014; 81: 114-117

Keywords
IgA vasculitis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, video capsule endoscopy, gastrointestinal involvement

Correspondence to
Seiji Kawana, Department of Dermatology, Nippon Medical School, 1-1-5 Sendagi, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8602, Japan
kawa2559@nms.ac.jp

Received, September 27, 2013
Accepted, October 18, 2013