Complications of Anaphylactoid Purpura

Anaphylactoid purpura is a disorder that causes blood vessel inflammation and bleeding. This bleeding causes a purple rash to appear on the skin. Most people recover without complications; however, some people may have kidney damage or bowel obstructions.

About Anaphylactoid Purpura

• Anaphylactoid purpura is also known as Henoch-Schoenlein purpura. It is characterized by a purple rash under the skin; this rash may actually look like bruises, according to information from the Mayo Clinic at MayoClinic.com. This rash usually shows up on the buttocks, legs and feet, but it can appear in other places, including at the sock line.

  Although no one knows exactly what causes it, anaphylactoid purpura is an abnormal response of the immune system and is more common in children than in adults, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. The body's immune response causes blood vessels to become inflamed and bleed. This is what causes the purple rash.

Symptoms

• In addition to the purple rash, the symptoms of anaphylactoid purpura are abdominal pain, joint pain, bloody bowel movements, hives, nausea, diarrhea, painful menstruation and vomiting, according to the National Institutes of Health. People who have anaphylactoid purpura have often had a cold or other upper-respiratory illness recently.

Complications

• Anaphylactoid purpura usually resolves on its own. However, it can cause kidney problems, according to the MayoClinic.com. It also can cause bowel obstructions, which can cause inflammation of the surrounding organs and tissues.

  Some people may have high blood pressure and acute kidney failure, according to the Vasculitis Foundation. The Vasculitis Foundation maintains a database of information on diseases of the blood vessels.

  Very rarely, anaphylactoid purpura can damage kidneys enough to cause end-stage renal disease, according to the Vasculitis Foundation. Patients with end-stage renal disease may need kidney transplants.

  Because of the possibilities of kidney problems, doctors may monitor patients with anaphylactoid purpura for signs of kidney distress.

Treatment

• Anaphylactoid purpura usually resolves on its own within four to six weeks, so most treatment is for the comfort of the patient, according to the Mayo Clinic. This can mean bed rest, lots of fluids and over-the-counter pain relievers.

  For patients with more severe symptoms, hospitalization might be necessary.

  Use of corticosteroids to treat anaphylactoid purpura is controversial because of the side effects of the drugs and lack of proof that they help in this disease.

Warning

• Because anaphylactoid purpura has been linked to kidney damage, people with symptoms of anaphylactoid purpura should seek medical attention.