Endoscopic findings in pediatric patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura and gastrointestinal symptoms.

We report the gastrointestinal endoscopic findings in nine patients with Henoch-Schonlein purpura. Eight patients underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy, which revealed erosive gastritis in one patient, hemorrhagic-erosive duodenitis in four, and both findings in one. The rectum and the sigmoid colon were examined in six patients. Aphthoid ulcers were noted in two. In one of these patients, a rectal ulcer was also noted. Severe inflammatory changes and angiitis were found in the biopsy specimens obtained from the duodenum and the colon. The vascular abnormalities in the gastrointestinal mucosa are similar histologically to those found in the skin in Henoch-Schonlein purpura.