A new surgical complication related to corticosteroids in a patient with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

In this case presentation of a 4-year-old boy with histopathologically proven Henoch-Schönlein purpura the authors report a surgical complication that occurred under corticosteroids; this had not been described previously. Relief of abdominal pain was dramatic and the hematemesis disappeared, but an entero-enteral fistula and abscess developed without any sign of peritonitis. Therefore, when corticosteroids are used for symptomatic relief, and intermittent bowel obstruction persists during their use, surgical complications should be suspected. In such cases, intermittent small bowel obstruction might be the only sign of a grave surgical complication.