Henoch-Schönlein purpura: a rare vasculitis in older adults

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a small vessel vasculitis with immunoglobulin A-dominant immune deposits found in vessel walls. It primarily affects children, is uncommon in adults and often under-recognised in the elderly population due to its rarity in this group. When a purpuric rash develops in an older person it is typically treated with antibiotics for presumed infection, rather than investigated as potentially HSP. It is important to recognise this condition, particulary in older adults, as diagnosis has implications for management and prognosis. We report a case of vasculitis with renal involvement in an older person.