[Gastrointestinal manifestations in Henoch-Schönlein purpura].

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a systemic, generalized vasculitis. Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms occur in about 80% of patients. GI symptoms precede other manifestations in 14% of patients. Delay of diagnosis may lead to severe problems such as intestinal perforation. Therefore we need to know the characteristics of HSP in case of GI involvement. Although the second part of duodenum has been reported to be affected predominantly, our data demonstrate that total sites of small intestine are affected and the endoscopic findings of small intestine do not differ from other GI tract. Double balloon endoscopy (DBE) and capsule endoscopy (CE) have enabled to observe total sites of small intestine. We expect that DBE and CE will elucidate the endoscopic characteristics of GI tract in HSP in the future.