EEG Abnormalities in Henoch-Schonlein Purpura

ABSTRACT

Schonlein-Henoch purpura is a generalized small vessel vasculitis characterized by nonthrombocytopenic purpura, arthritis, abdominal pain and nephritis. In 1914 Osler described an allergic purpura associated with hemiplegia. After then Lewis et al. reported the cases of Schonlein-Henoch purpura associated with convulsion, coma, confusion, intracranial hemorrhage, and chorea, CNS complication has been reported in 1-8% of children and subsided spontaneously in most cases. Headache is a remarkable sympton and appears nonspecific nature. In 1991 Ostergaard and Storm reported that headache occured during the first week following skin rash and frequently showed abnormal EEG findings. We investigated prospectively the presence of a possible cerebral and renal involvement in the case of Schonlein-Henoch purpura. EEG abnormality demonstrated in 52.6% of all cases, and headache or irritability in 47.4% of all cases. A significant association was found between abnormal EEG finding and presence of headache, but was not found between EEG findings and presence of renal involvement and hypertension. Patients with abnormal EEG had no Past or famity history of febrile convulsion or ididopathic epilepsy.