A case of the Schönlein-Henoch syndrome with myocardial necrosis.

The purpuras of Henoch and Schonlein have usually been described together under the term ' anaphylactoid purpura." It is only in recent times, however, that papers on their pathology have appeared in which a definite lesion, which is common to both conditions, is described. This consists of an arteriolitis which, in severe cases, is necrotizing. It is now reasonably well established that the Schonlein-Henoch syndrome is due to a hypersensitivity reaction in which either a bacterial or a non-bacterial antigen, for example, an article of food, may be concerned (Gairdner, 1948). It is the purpose of this communication to describe a case in which there was an opportunity to study the pathology after death. The case is of particular interest because much attention is being paid at present to the collagen diseases and because a cardiac lesion was found which apparently has not been described before in this syndrome.