Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in systemic vasculitis presenting as an acute abdomen

Three cases of upper gastrointestinal vasculitis presenting as acute abdominal emergencies highlight an uncommon but often fatal presentation of systemic vasculitis. Although abdominal symptoms are common in such diseases, there may be a doubt during assessment of the patient as to whether the gastrointestinal tract is the prime target organ. Radiology is often negative during the acute illness. Endoscopy was important in documenting early and more advanced bleeding lesions of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) and Henoch-Schoenlein disease, both conditions in which upper gastrointestinal lesions are rare. The gastric and duodenal vasculitic lesions demonstrated by endoscopy in such a clinical setting were confirmed histologically. Endoscopic assessment and early aggressive medical therapy contributed significantly towards the overall successful outcome. Gastroduodenoscopy has not been used either routinely or as an emergency investigation for the assessment of patients with vasculitis who present with acute abdominal pain. Involvement of the stomach and duodenum by vasculitis is therefore poorly appreciated, but remains a serious complication of vasculitic disease when the gastrointestinal tract is the prime target organ, and the information gained by endoscopy in a difficult clinical situation might alter the overall outcome of the disease.