Shönlein-Henoch nephritis complicated with pulmonary renal syndrome

Schönlein-Henoch purpura is a systemic vasculitic disorder involving both arterioles and capillaries. Although it is mainly a disease of early chilhood, it can occur at any age. The disease may be more severe in the few adults who develop this disorder. The clinical manifestations include a classic tetrad: rash, arthralgias, abdominal pain and renal disease. However it may affect almost every other bodily organ such us myocardium, lungs, ureter and nervous system. Pulmonary hemorrhage, a rare complication of Schönlein-Henoch purpura, has been found mainly in adolescents and adults, and it is associated with significant mortality. We present a case of 76-year-old men with Schönlein-Henoch purpura, pulmonary haemorrhage and severe renal involvement. Therapy with intravenous prednisolone resulted in resolution of the pulmonary lesions and renal failure.