Possible association of Henoch-Schönlein purpura in adults with odontogenic focal infection.

BACKGROUND

Odontogenic focal infection (OFI) is considered to be an important precipitating factor in some cases of palmoplantar pustulosis and psoriasis. In Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), it is clear that acute bacterial infection is one of the causes. However, it remains unclear how OFI participates in the pathogenesis of HSP.

METHODS

To clarify how OFI is related to the disease activity of HSP in terms of skin lesions and organ involvement, we conducted a retrospective study of 28 cases of adult-type HSP.

RESULTS

Panoramic x-ray screening detected OFI in 14 of the 28 patients. Patients with OFI had higher incidences of renal and gastrointestinal complications than those without OFI. Seven patients had severe OFI and underwent tooth extraction, resulting in a marked improvement of their skin lesions. Five of those seven patients exhibited transient flare-up after the tooth extraction.

CONCLUSIONS

Latent OFI is an important infectious focus that is involved in the pathogenesis of HSP and influences its disease activity.