Surgical complications in Henoch-Schönlein Purpura

Intestinal intussusception, perforation, and infarction constitute the major surgical complications in Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP). This report reviews the surgical experience in 13 patients of the 58 treated for HSP at our institution in the past 10 years. In addition, the reported surgical cases of anaphylactoid purpura in the pediatric age are analyzed. Attention is focused on observations not previously emphasized in regard to the timing of the surgical event in relation to the cutaneous manifestation of HSP.