Henoch Schönlein purpura and amebiasis

Abstract

The pathogenesis of Henoch Schönlein purpura (HSP) is unknown but is believed to result from an immune complex reaction to various antigenic stimuli, such as infectious agents. However, its association with Entamoeba histolytica has not been reported before. We present an 11-year-old boy with HSP, confirmed by the demonstration of leukocytoclastic vasculitis from skin and diffuse endocapillary proliferative glomerulonephritis, together with immunoglobulin A and complement component C3 deposition from renal biopsies. Cysts and trophozoites of Entamoeba histolytica were detected from the stool of the patient at the same time and disappeared after the treatment with metranidasole. The temporal association of these two disorders is either coincidental or due to a causal relationship between them.