Cerebral vasculitis in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common systemic vasculitis of childhood, affecting the small blood vessels. The disease is a clinical syndrome characterized by multiple organ involvement including the skin, joints, gastrointestinal tract, and the kidneys. Headache and behavioral changes can be frequently seen during the course of the disease, but severe neurological signs such as seizures, focal neurologic deficits, intracerebral hematoma, mononeuropathies, and polyradiculoneuropathies are the rare complications of HSP. In this report, we described a 17-year-old girl with HSP who presented with seizures and disturbance of consciousness. The subsequent magnetic resonance imaging of the brain demonstrated findings consistent with cerebral vasculitis. The pulse steroid therapy was performed immediately after the diagnosis and clinical improvement was achieved rapidly. In conclusion, we suggest that cerebral vasculitis should be considered in all HSP patients with neurological symptoms and signs. Turk J Phys Med Re hab 2012;58:329-31.