Hemorrhagic complications of Henoch-Schönlein syndrome.

Two patients are described with atypical manifestations of Henoch-Schönlein syndrome. One patient suffered severe intracranial hemorrhage and a subsequent massive gastric hemorrhage. The other patient developed an asymptomatic serosanguinous pleural effusion. Both had evidence of profound hypoprothrombinemia at the time of admission. Aggressive management of any coagulopathy accompanying Henoch-Schönlein syndrome is cardinal in order to prevent life-threatening complications such as gastrointestinal, intracranial, and pulmonary hemorrhage.