The Schönlein-Henoch syndrome and collagen disease.

The clinical manifestations of the SchonleinHenoch syndrome as described in articles by Gairdner (1948), Davis (1948) and other writers, are a typical exanthem, colic, haematuria, articular and periarticular swellings, and a liability to develop nephritis. Gairdner drew attention to the possible relationship between this syndrome, acute nephritis, rheumatic fever and polyarteritis nodosa. It is proposed to record 35 cases occurring in children between 4 and 13 years old who have been in-patients at Alder Hey Children's Hospital, Liverpool. For convenience these 35 cases will be considered in two groups: Group A, comprising 14 cases admitted between 1944 and 1947, and Group B, comprising 21 cases admitted between 1948 and the end of 1950. Those in the second group were more extensively investigated and their progress has been closely followed. In addition, it is proposed to describe four atypical cases which have features in common with the syndrome and also appear to be diseases of the collagen system.