Henoch-Schönlein purpura with rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and fatal intraperitoneal hemorrhage in an adult.

We report here the autopsy findings in a 51-year-old man who had been admitted with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) accompanied by rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis and massive intraperitoneal hemorrhage, leading to death. While the intraperitoneal hemorrhage was the primary cause of death, the patient may have suffered widespread intraperitoneal vasculitis due to HSP, or hemorrhagic pancreatitis due to the concurrent administration of a steroid and furosemide. We emphasize the acute hemorrhagic pancreatitis is a possible complication in patients with generalized vasculitis, including HSP and collagen disease, during the concurrent administration of steroids and other agents.