Gastrointestinal mucosal lesions in an adult with Henoch-Schonlein purpura presenting as intestinal tuberculosis: a case report

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is a leukocytoclastic vasculitis mediated by IgA deposition that occurs mostly in children. This report describes a young woman with HSP, who presented with cutaneous and gastrointestinal manifestations of this disease. Endoscopy revealed deep annular ulcerations in the terminal ileum and ileocecal valve regions, as well as diffused erythema throughout the gastrointestinal tract. Although ileitis occurs in patients with HSP, ulceration in the terminal ileum and ileocecal valve regions is virtually pathognomonic for intestinal tuberculosis, especially in young adults from China. The findings in this patient indicate the importance of including HSP in the differential diagnosis of ileitis suggestive of intestinal tuberculosis.