An unusual cause of gastrointestinal bleeding: adult mixed-type Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

A 25-year-old man presented with 3-day history of abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, and bloody stools. The contrast-enhanced CT examination of the abdomen detected thickening and edema of intestinal canal wall. The complete colonoscopy showed hyperemia, dropsy and erosion in the sigmoid colon and rectum. The biopsies revealed obvious bleeding points in mucosa. Then, wireless capsule endoscopy (OMOM ® JS-ME-I) was carried out and showed multiple lesions in the entire small intestine with diffused hyperemia, dropsy and erosion, even multiple and large ulcers. Subsequently, symmetrical scattered purpura distributed over the extensor surfaces of the lower limbs. Hence, a firm diagnosis of adult mixed-type Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) was made. With the use of methylprednisolone, the patient was recovered. The patient remained well during our follow-up.