Myocardial infarction - a rare complication in Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Henoch-Schönlein Purpura /IgA Vasculitis Complicated by Coronary Artery Aneurysm: A Case Report and Literature Review

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP)/ IgA vasculitis (IgAV) is the most common form of systemic vasculitis in children and often involves the skin, gastrointestinal tract, joints, and kidneys, though cardiac involvement rarely occurs. We report on a 6-year-old male child with HSP/IgAV who had renal and cardiac involvement at the initial stage of the disease and in whom we found an extremely rare coronary artery aneurysm. After administration of glucocorticoid combined with mycophenolate mofetil, the renal involvement improved, but the coronary artery aneurysm remained. Pursuant to this case, we retrieved information on other cases of HSP/IgAV complicated with cardiac involvement from the PubMed database, and excluded cases of cardiac involvement accompanied by Kawasaki disease, polyarteritis nodosa, rheumatic fever, Takayasu arteritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, poststreptococcal glomerulonephritis, or sepsis. We then analyzed gender, age, cardiac involvement, renal involvement, treatment, and prognoses. To date, 24 cases of HSP/IgAV complicated with cardiac involvement have been reported. Among them, there were 22 male and 2 female patients, with the onset age ranging from 3 to 71 years old. A total of 10 children (including the child we examined) and 14 adults were identified, and 17 patients (70.8%) had HSP/IgAV complicated with renal involvement. The majority of patients were treated with glucocorticoid and/or immunosuppressants or biological agents, 4 patients died (16.7%), 8 patients were completely relieved (33.3%), and 3 patients had unknown prognoses. This article suggests that HSP/IgAV complicated with cardiac involvement may result in a poor prognosis and early treatment may therefore be essential. Our case revealed that glucocorticoid does not prevent the occurrence of renal and cardiac involvement in HSP/IgAV patients. If HSP/IgAV is complicated with coronary artery dilation, the therapeutic effect of glucocorticoid combined with immunosuppressants is not satisfactory, and early administration of biological agents or IVIG may be an effective therapeutic regimen.

Myocarditis and intracardiac thrombus due to Henoch-Schönlein purpura: case report and literature review

Cardiac involvement is very rare in patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). In this case study, we present an 8-year-old girl presenting with HSP-induced myocarditis and thrombus in the right atrium and HSP nephritis. To date, 15 cases of HSP-related cardiac involvement have been reported in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. These cases, together with our case, are included in this review. We excluded those patients with other rheumatologic diseases (acute rheumatic fever, acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, Kawasaki disease) accompanied by HSP. Three were children and 13 were adults and all were male except our case. This review revealed tachyarrhythmia, chest pain, dyspnea, murmur, and heart failure as the major signs. Cardiac tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), and imaging methods (echocardiography in all patients, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in three, cardiac biopsy in one, and post-mortem necropsy in three) showed that the cardiac involvements were pericardial effusion, intra-atrial thrombus, myocarditis, coronary artery changes, myocardial ischemia, infarction and necrosis, subendocardial hemorrhage, and left ventricular dilatation. Kidney involvement was not observed in three patients. As the treatment, high-dose prednisolone and cyclophosphamide, oral corticosteroid, azathioprine, nadroparin calcium, ACE inhibitors, calcium antagonists, beta-blockers, and diuretics were used. Eleven patients (all three children and eight of the adults) had a complete cardiac recovery. Cardiac involvement in adults was more likely to be fatal. Death (three patients), ischemia, and infarct have been reported only in adults. We suggested that early and aggressive treatment can be life-saving. MRI examination is effective at identifying cardiac involvement.

Resolution of sinus bradycardia, high-grade heart block, and left ventricular systolic dysfunction with rituximab therapy in Henoch-Schonlein purpura

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a rare, typically self-limited, multi-organ vasculitis. Cardiac involvement with HSP carries high morbidity and mortality, thus requiring early aggressive immunosuppressive therapy. We report a case of HSP complicated with acute systolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction, symptomatic sinus bradycardia and high-grade atrio-ventricular (AV) heart block. Cyclophosphamide, a commonly used agent in HSP, was contraindicated due to the patient's presentation with acute renal failure. Treatment with monoclonal antibody rituximab and corticosteroids was initiated with an improvement in and resolution of LV systolic dysfunction, sinus bradycardia and AV block. We believe this is the first published report on rituximab treatment in HSP with cardiac involvement manifesting with severe LV systolic dysfunction, sinus bradycardia and high-grade AV block.

A case of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura with dilated coronary arteries

BACKGROUND

Henoch-Schonlein Purpura (HSP) is one of the most common vasculitides of childhood, with 10-20 cases per 100,000 children. It frequently occurs following an infectious trigger and involves IgA and C3 deposition in small vessel walls. HSP is characterized by palpable purpura plus IgA deposition on biopsy, arthritis/arthralgia, renal involvement (hematuria and/or proteinuria), and/or abdominal pain. It is not generally recognized as a cause of dilated coronary arteries.

CASE PRESENTATION

We describe the first reported case of HSP presenting with dilated coronary arteries. This patient is a nine-year-old previously healthy Caucasian male who presented with 1 week of petechiae on his lower legs, knee and ankle arthritis, and abdominal pain without fever, consistent with HSP. An echocardiogram revealed coronary dilation, including the left main (5.32 mm, Z score + 4.25) and left anterior descending (LAD) (3.51 mm, Z score + 2.64) coronary arteries. He received high dose aspirin, IVIG, and infliximab with normalization of the LAD. Skin biopsy revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis with positive IgA staining. He was Rhinovirus/Enterovirus positive with Group A Streptococcus on throat culture.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac findings, while rare, can exist in HSP. Coronary dilation appeared to respond to our hospital protocol's Kawasaki Disease (KD) therapy, possibly indicating an overlap in HSP and KD pathophysiology. This case, along with prior reports of dilated coronaries in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SJIA), highlights the importance of considering other sources of systemic inflammation, in addition to KD, when coronary dilation is identified. The appropriate therapy, follow-up, and prognosis for our patient are not clear, as further studies are needed to determine the natural course of these findings.

Coronary artery thickening with mucosal lesions in Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common vasculitis of childhood. It is usually self-limiting and is characterized by an immune complex-mediated vasculitis associated with IgA deposition. We present an unusual case of HSP with mucosal lesions and coronary artery thickening.

Myocardial infarction due to coronary thrombosis in a patient with Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is characterized by vasculitic involvement of small-sized vessels and results in multisystem manifestations. Cardiac involvement is extremely rare and myocardial infarction with coronary thrombus formation in those patients has also rarely been reported. Herein, we report a 33-year-old man with acute myocardial infarction due to coronary thrombus formation and HSP.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura complicated by cardiac involvement: case report and review of the literature

Involvement of the kidneys in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) occurs in approximately 50% of patients with HSP, with varying severity. In general, disease outcome is favorable for adolescents. However, severe courses with vasculitis impairing multiple organ systems in addition to the kidney, including brain, heart, and intestine, may occur. This involvement, often manifesting more subtly, requires alertness for diagnosis and escalation of immunosuppressive therapy for treatment. We report a case of severe HSP nephritis with cardiac involvement in a young man. Cardiac involvement was noted initially on an electrocardiogram and visualized by using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. HSP remission was induced with aggressive cytotoxic therapy, consisting of cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m(2) every 4 weeks) in addition to high-dose prednisolone. The case presentation is followed by a review of the literature for manifestations, treatments, and outcomes in patients with HSP complicated by cardiac involvement.

Cardiac involvement in Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Cardiac involvement is not regarded as a feature of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). We report a patient with HSP who developed significant cardiac symptoms, which resolved with immunosuppression. We review previous cases of HSP with cardiac features, none of which showed a response to treatment, and discuss evidence that cardiac involvement is more common than recognized. The implications for investigation and treatment of this condition are discussed.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura: a case with atypical presentation

We report on a case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) with pulmonary hemorrhage and severe renal involvement. The patient also had active carditis related to acute rheumatic fever. He died despite intensive treatment. Regarding this case, we discuss the pathogenesis and clinical findings of pulmonary hemorrhage and active carditis in HSP.

Polyangitis overlap syndrome: a fatal case combined with adult Henoch-Schönlein purpura and polyarteritis nodosa

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a rather common disease characterized by systemic hypersensitivity vasculitis in the skin and other visceral organs. It has a favorable prognosis unless it is complicated by severe glomerular disease. We report a distinctive fatal case of systemic vasculitis combined with HSP and polyarteritis nodosa (PN) in a 56-year-old man who died of progressive renal failure one month after the onset of the disease. He complained of arthralgia, purpura of both lower extremities, nasal bleeding and tarry stool, and acute renal failure was noted at the time of admission to hospital. A skin biopsy from the purpura lesion exhibited leucocytoclastic vasculitis with IgA deposition, and HSP was considered. However, renal failure progressed rapidly and subsequently was complicated by acute myocardial infarction. Postmortem examination revealed PN type necrotizing vasculitis in the kidneys, heart and mesentery resulting in acute multiple infarctions of these organs. We think the current case was a polyangitis overlap syndrome. It is important to suspect the polyangitis overlap syndrome positively when progressive acute renal failure is seen in a patient with HSP and to begin appropriate therapy immediately.

Schönlein-henoch purpura in children and adults: diagnosis, pathophysiology and management

Schönlein-Henoch syndrome is a form of systemic small-vessel vasculitis, characterised by vascular and/or mesangial immunoglobulin A1 deposits. The main clinical manifestations are vascular purpura, predominating on the lower limbs, and articular, gastrointestinal and renal symptoms. Pulmonary, cardiac, genital and neurological symptoms have also be observed. The syndrome usually affects children, whereas it is rare in adults. The frequency of renal involvement varies between individual studies (from 20 to 100%). Renal manifestations are usually mild and transient, although chronic nephropathies may occur. Overall, an estimated 2% of children with Schönlein-Henoch purpura progress to renal failure and up to 20% of children with nephritis treated in specialised centres require haemodialysis. The renal prognosis appears to be worse in adults. Aetiological investigations are required, as a triggering factor is found in approximately half the patients (e.g. viral, bacterial and parasitic infections, drugs, toxins, systemic diseases and cancer). Dapsone has beneficial effects on cutaneous, gastrointestinal and articular manifestations in adults, especially those with chronic forms. Corticosteroids may be useful for refractory abdominal pain. Methylprednisolone pulse therapy, immunosuppressive drugs (e.g. cyclophosphamide and azathioprine), plasma exchange and polyclonal immunoglobulin therapy are beneficial in very rare life-threatening forms of the disease and in rare instances where renal function is compromised.

Cardiopulmonary manifestations of Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is usually a mild condition involving the skin, gut, joints, and kidneys and has a good prognosis. We present a 63-year-old Hispanic man who had an unusually severe form of HSP with a fatal outcome attributable to vasculitis causing myocardial necrosis. There is only one citation in the literature of HSP-related myocardial vasculitis, which involved the right ventricle and was successfully treated with steroids. Our patient had severe HSP-related myocardial necrosis, tracheobronchitis, and nephritis. The bronchial lesions resolved, presumably because of steroid therapy. This probably is the first case of fatal myocardial necrosis related to HSP. We conclude that HSP can, in some cases, have an aggressive course. It becomes imperative to recognize the involvement of the other organ systems, such as the heart, so that appropriate therapy may be initiated. Immunosuppression may have a beneficial effect on extrarenal lesions. Controlled clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy of such treatment.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura: four cases and a review

Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP) is a common, usually self-limited, vasculitis affecting children and young adults. Manifested by a characteristic rash, the course of HSP is typically a benign one, but may be accompanied by varying degrees of abdominal pain, arthritis or arthralgia, gastrointestinal bleeding, and nephritis. The various manifestations of HSP may present at any stage during the illness and mimic other disease processes, some of which may be life threatening. Thus, the emergency physician must consider the diagnosis of HSP in order to detect complications and avoid needless intervention in what usually is an otherwise benign process. We present four cases and a brief review of the literature to highlight HSP in the differential diagnosis of patients who present with any of the typical clinical signs and symptoms.