IgA vasculitis

Last revised by Arlene Campos on 26 Jun 2023

IgA vasculitis (formerly known as Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP)) is a type of non-thrombocytopenic immune-mediated small vessel acute leukocytoclastic vasculitis.

IgA vasculitis tends to occur in the paediatric population (peak incidence 3-10 years) 3. In predominantly White populations, it is the most common type of vasculitis in children (Kawasaki disease is the most common type of vasculitis in children worldwide) 10,15.

The diagnosis of IgA vasculitis is based on a combination of typical clinical and pathological features.

In order to differentiate from other types of vasculitides, the 1990 diagnostic criteria by the American College of Rheumatology require two or more of 13,14:

  • age of onset less than 20 years (although some case series show disease involvement in older individuals)

  • palpable skin purpura

  • acute abdominal pain

  • biopsy showing granulocytes around small arteriolar/venular walls

The presence of two or more of these criteria has a sensitivity and specificity of 87% for IgA vasculitis 14.

IgA vasculitis tends to present as:

  • a palpable, purpuric rash primarily of the extremities

  • acute abdominal pain, ileoileal intussusception may be present

  • arthralgia

In IgA vasculitis, there is deposition of IgA immune complexes in small vessels.

The most common organ systems to be involved are:

  • skin: 95-100%, usually the first organ to get involved

  • gastrointestinal tract: 50-75%

  • joints: ~80% 6

  • kidneys

Rare sites:

  • central nervous system 5,7

May show evidence of bowel wall thickening due to haemorrhage and/or evidence of bowel obstruction. Plain radiograph features are however non-specific.

Small bowel follow-through may show evidence of separation of bowel loops, "thumbprinting" and/or mucosal thickening.

May show echogenic kidneys, target or doughnut sign in case of intussusception. IgA vasculitis has also been shown to cause massive scrotal oedema and can be a source of severe pain in young boys 9.

May show multifocal bowel thickening, lymphadenopathy, mesenteric oedema and vascular engorgement. Although non-specific, CT findings may aid in the diagnosis of IgA vasculitis in a young patient with acute gastrointestinal illness along with other cutaneous features of IgA vasculitis. Intussusception, typically ileoileal type, is also seen.

The disease is self-limiting in most instances. Treatment is usually supportive including fluids and pain relief in the paediatric population. Steroids are used in adults due to the risk of serious renal involvement 10.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura was named after Eduard Heinrich Henoch, German paediatrician (1820-1910), and Johann Lukas Schönlein, German physician (1793-1864) 11, whom Henoch was the protégé of, although neither was the first to describe this condition 11,12.

On a CT/contrast study for the bowel consider:

ADVERTISEMENT: Supporters see fewer/no ads

Updating… Please wait.

 Unable to process the form. Check for errors and try again.

 Thank you for updating your details.