Neurological complications in the Schönlein-Henoch syndrome.

Although a few textbooks persist in describing separately 'Schonlein's purpura' and 'Henoch's purpura' the recognition of the Schonlein-Henoch syndrome as a disease entity cannot now be disputed. The characteristic exanthem, the frequent occurrence of arthritis and intestinal symptoms, together with the possibility of renal damage, are well known. Serious neurological complications of this condition must be rare, judging from the medical literature, and therefore the following cases are of particular interest. The diagnosis of the Schonlein-Henoch syndrome in each patient was based on the finding of an exanthem of the type and distribution described by Gairdner (1948), namely, intestinal colic and vomiting, arthralgia and nephritis (in two of the three cases). Case Reports