Point-of-care ultrasound identification of pneumatosis intestinalis associated with Henoch-Schönlein purpura gastrointestinal involvement: A case report
10.5847/wjem.j.1920-8642.2021.01.013
- Author:
Sek Wan Tan
1
,
2
,
3
,
4
Author Information
1. Children&rsquo
2. s Emergency, KK Women&rsquo
3. s and Children&rsquo
4. s Hospital, 229899, Singapore
- Publication Type:Letter
- Keywords:
Henoch-Schönlein purpura
- From:
World Journal of Emergency Medicine
2021;12(1):76-78
- CountryChina
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the commonest vasculitis in children, typically affecting children aged three to ten years.[1] It is a multi-systemic vasculitis mediated by type III hypersensitivity with deposition of immunoglobulin. An immune complex-mediated vasculitis affects small vessels of the skin, joints, kidneys, and gastrointestinal (GI) tracts. HSP is usually a self-limiting condition and resolves within six to eight weeks.[1]
HSP tends to involve the GI tract and symptoms may occur before skin manifestations. Proximal small bowel and distal ileum are the sites that usually involved.[2,3] Colicky abdominal pain is the predominant GI manifestation and can be debilitating. Severe GI complications such as massive GI bleeding, intussusception, protein losing enteropathy, and pancreatitis can uncommonly occur.[2,4]
Imaging is often required in the evaluation of HSP with GI involvement. However, there is little pediatric literature on the role of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) by pediatric emergency physicians in the identification of pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) in HSP.
- Full text:013 WJEM-2019-0223.pdf