Abstract
Laboratory studies of the pathophysiology of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) have become more numerous in recent years with the recognition of the disease's links with the mucosal immune system in general and IgA nephropathy in particular. There are weak genetic associations with C4 null phenotypes and with HLA B35 and DR4. Studies of plasma proteins in HSP patients show an increased IgA concentration, activation of the alternative pathway of complement and consumption of factor XIII. High molecular weight (polymeric) IgA has been detected in affected individuals, which some investigators have called “immune complexes”. Many patients synthesise an IgA rheumatoid factor in the acute phase, but other autoantibodies are largely absent. In vitro studies of lymphocytes from HSP patients have demonstrated an increased number of IgA-bearing and secreting B-cells, with altered T-cell regulation of antibody synthesis. While these observations point to immune dysregulation — primarily of IgA production — as a consistent feature of acute HSP, there is as yet insufficient information available to allow a consistent theory of pathogenesis to be formulated.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Osler W (1914) Visceral lesions of purpura and allied conditions. Br Med J 1:517
Altrogge G, Hagen-Aukamp C, Grabensee B, Frenzel F (1982) IgA nephropathy. A monosymptomatic variant of Schoenlein-Henoch purpura? Med Welt 33:890–891
Lofters WS, Pineo GF, Luke KH, Yaworsky RG (1973) Henoch-Schönlein purpura occuring in three members of a family. CMA Journal 109:46–48
Levy M (1989) Familial cases of Berger's disease and anaphylactoid purpura: more frequent than previously thought (letter). Am J Med 87:246–248
Berthoux FC, Gagne A, Sabatier JC, Ducret F, Le Petit JC, Marcellin M, Mercier B, Brizard CP (1978) HLA Bw35 and mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis. N Engl J Med 298:1034
Sabatier JC, Genin C, Assenat H, Colon S, Ducret F, Berthoux FC (1979) Mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis in HLA-identical brothers. Clin Nephrol 11:35–38
Montoliu J, Darnell A, Torras A, Ercilla G, Valles M, Revert L (1980) Familial IgA nephropathy. Report of two cases and brief review of the literature. Arch Intern Med 140:1374–1375
Kashiwabara H, Shishido H, Tomura S, Tuchida H, Miyajima T (1982) Strong association between IgA nephropathy and HLA-DR4 antigen. Kidney Int 22:377–382
Feehally J, Dyer PA, Davidson JA, Harris R, Mallick NP (1984) Immunogenetics of IgA nephropathy: experience in a UK centre. Dis Markers 2:493–500
Julian BA, Quiggins PA, Thompson JS, Woodford SY, Gleason K, Wyatt RJ (1985) Familial IgA nephropathy. Evidence of an inherited mechanism of disease. N Engl J Med 312:202–208
Tolkoff-Rubin NE, Cosimi AB, Fuller T, Rubin RH, Colvin RB (1978) IgA nephropathy in HLA identical siblings. Transplantation 26:430–433
Meadow SR, Scott DG (1985) Berger disease: Henoch-Schönlein syndrome without the rash. J Pediatr 106:27–32
Osawa H, Yamabe H, Ozawa K, Fukushik, Kubota H, Chiba N, Onodera K, Hirayama J (1989) A family case of IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis. Nippon Jinzo Gakkai Shi 31:121–123
Hasegawa A, Kawamura T, Ito H, Hasegawa O, Ogawa O, Honda M, Chara T, Hajikano H (1989) Fate of renal grafts with recurrent Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis in children. Transplant Proc 21:2130–2133
Noel LH, Descamps B, Jungers P, Bach JF, Busson M, Svet C, Hors J, Dausset J (1978) HLA antigens in three types of glomerulonephritis. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 10:19–23
Smith SM, Tung KSK (1985) Incidence of IgA-related nepritides in American Indians in New Mexico. Hum Pathol 16:181–184
Galla JH, Kohaut EC, Alexander R, Mestecky J (1984) Racial differences in the prevalence of IgA-associated nephropathies. Lancet II:522
D'Amico G (1987) The commonest glomerulonephritis in the world: IgA nephropathy. Q J Med 245:709–727
Egido J, Julian BA, Wyatt RJ (1987) Genetic factors in primary IgA nephropathy. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2:134–142
Sussman M, Sanger C, Livesey L, Beck P (1974) Mycoplasma-like particles in patients with anaphylactoid purpura. J Urol Nephrol (Paris) 80:985–986
Sussman M, Jones JH, Almeida JD, Lachmann PJ (1973) Deficiency of the second component of complement associated with anaphylactoid purpura and presence of mycoplasma in the serum. Clin Exp Immunol 14:531–539
Gelfand EW, Clarkson JE, Minta JO (1975) Selective deficiency of the second component of complement in a patient with anaphylactoid purpura. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 4:269–276
Einstein LP, Alper CA, Block KJ, Herrin JT, Rosen FS, David JR, Colten HR (1975) Biosynthetic defect in monocytes from human beings with genetic deficiency of the second component of complement. N Engl J Med 292:1169–1171
Campbell RD (1987) The molecular genetics and polymorphism of C2 and factor B. Br Med Bull 43:37–49
Batchelor JR, McMichael AJ (1987) Progress in understanding HLA and disease associations. Br Med Bull 43:156–183
Schifferli JA, Steiger G, Paccaud J-P, Sjoholm AG, Hauptmann G (1986) Difference in the biological properties of the two forms of the fourth component of human complement. Clin Exp Immunol 63:473–477
Welch TR, Beischel L, Berry A, Forristal J, West CD (1985) The effect of null C4 alleles on complement function. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 34:316–325
Carroll MC, Alper CA (1987) Polymorphism and molecular genetics of human C4. Br Med Bull 43:50–65
McLean RH, Wyatt RJ, Julian BA (1984) Complement phenotypes in glomerulonephritis: increased frequency of homozygous null C4 phenotypes in IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Kidney Int 26:855–860
Knight JF, Briggs DC, Demaine AG, Chantler C, Welsh KI, Williams DG (1987) Immunoglobulin switch genes and C4 allotypes in Henoch-Schönlein purpura (abstract). Nephrol Dial Transplant 2: 426
Berthoux P, Alamartine E, Pommier G, Vacherot C, Laurent B, Le Petit JC, Berthoux FC (1987) Immunogenetics of primary IgA nephropathy. In: Schena FP, Emancipator SN (eds) Abstracts of an International Symposium on IgA Nephropathy, Bari. p 8
Welch TR, Berry A, Beischel Ls (1987) C4 isotype deficiency in IgA nephropathy. Pediatr Nephrol 1: 136–139
Rashid HU, Papiha SS, Agroyannis B, Morley AR, Ward MK (1983) The associations of HLA and other genetic markers with glomerulonephritis. Hum Genet 63: 38–44
Sengar DP, Acharya CD, Wolfish NM (1984) HLA specificities, lymphocyte subsets, and mitogenic response in Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis. Int J Pediatr Nephrol 5: 197–200
Freycon MT, Parchoux B, Dechelette E, Sellem C, Lepetit JC (1984) HLA and rheumatoid purpura with or without nephropathy. Pediatrie 39: 525–532
Berthoux FC, Genin C, Le Petit JC, Laurent B (1983) Immunogenetics of intercapillary glomerulonephritis due to IgA deposits. Nephrologie 4: 283–287
Fauchet R, Guegeren M, Genetet B, Le Pogamp P, Ramee M-P, Chevet D, Simon P (1980) HLA-DR antigen and IgA nephropathy (Berger's disease). N Engl J Med 302: 1033–1034
Kasahara M, Hamada K, Okuyama T, Wakisaka A, Aizawa M, Katacka Y, Miyamoto R, Ishikawa N, Ogasawara K, Ikeda H, Takenouchi T, Kohara M, Naito S, Kashiwagi N, Hiki Y (1982) Role of HLA in IgA nephropathy. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 25: 189–195
Hiki Y, Kobayashi Y, Tateno S, Sada M, Kashiwagi N (1982) Strong association of HLA-DR4 with benign IgA nephropathy. Nephron 32: 222–226
Demaine AG, Rambausek M, Knight JF, Williams DG, Welsh KI (1988) Relation of mesangial IgA glomerulonephritis to polymorphism of immunoglobulin heavy chain switch region. J Clin Invest 81: 611–614
Radbruch A, Burger C, Klein S, Muller W (1986) Control of immunoglobulin class switch recombination. Immunol Rev 89:60–83
Kuno-Sakai H, Sakai H, Nomoto Y, Takakura I, Kimura M (1979) Increase of IgA-bearing peripheral blood lymphocytes in children with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura. Pediatrics 64: 918–922
Okushin S, Takahashi N, Ogawa T Kanahara K, Hamaguchi N, Hirabayashi A, Wada K, Yorioka N (1986) Immunoglobulin production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells in IgAN patients and their relatives. Hiroshima J Med Sci 35: 177–182
Weiss EH, Ziegler A (1989) HLA — genes and function. Immunol Today 10: 516–518
Bodmer JG, Kennedy LJ, Lindsay J, Wasik AM (1987) Applications of serology and the ethnic distribution of three locus HLA haplotypes. Br Med Bull 54: 94–121
Dorn A, Fehling HJ, Koch W, Le Meur M, Gerlinger P, Benoist C, Mathis D (1988) B-Cell control region at the 5′ end of a major histocompatibility complex class II gene: sequence and factors. Mol Cell Biol F: 3975–3987
Bannister KM, Hay J, Clarkson AR, Woodroffe AJ (1984) Fc-specific reticulo-endothelial clearance in systemic lupus erythematosus and glomerulonephritis. Am J Kidney Dis 3: 287–292
Roccatello D, Coppo R, Rollino C, Martina G, Piccoli G (1984) Monocyte and macrophage Fc-receptor function in systemic vasculitis with renal involvement. Int J Tissue React 6: 541–545
Roccatello D, Coppo R, Piccoli G, Cordonnier D, Martina G (1985) Circulating Fc-receptor blocking factors in IgA nephropathies. Clin Nephrol 23: 159–168
Roccatello D, Coppo R, Basolo B, Martina G, Rollino C, Cordinnier D, Busquet G, Picciotto G, Sena LM, Piccoli G (1983) Interaction between the macrophage system and IgA immune complexes in IgA nephropathy. Proc Eur Dial Transplant Assoc 20: 610–616
Davin J-C, Foidart JB, Mahieu PR (1982) Fc-receptor function in Henoch-Schönlein disease of childhood. Proc Eur Dial Transplant Assoc 19: 590–596
Tanaka M, Fujisawa S, Okuda R (1969) Anaphylactoid purpura in childhood. III. Follow-up study of serum levels of immunoglobulins (G, M, A). Ann Paediatr Jpn 15: 19–26
Trygstad CW, Stiehm ER (1971) Elevated serum IgA globulin in anaphylactoid purpura. Pediatrics 47: 1023–1028
Whitworth JA, Leibowitz JA, Kennedy MC, Cameron JS, Chantler C (1976) IgA and glomerular disease. Clin Nephrol 5: 33–36
Simila S, Kouvalainen K, Lanning M (1977) Serum immunoglobulin levels in the course of anaphylactoid purpura in children. Acta Paediatr Scand 66: 537–540
Urizar RE, Singh JK, Muhammad T, Hines O (1978) Henoch-Schönlein anaphylactoid purpura nephropathy: electron microscopic lesions mimicking acute poststreptococcal nephritis. Hum Pathol 9: 223–229
Berger J, Hinglais N (1968) Les depots intercapillaires d'IgA-IgG. J Urol Nephrol (Paris) 74: 694
Ayoub EM, Hoyer J (1969) Anaphylactoid purpura: streptococcal antibody titers and β1C-globulin levels. J Pediatr 75: 193–201
Farley TA, Gillespie S, Rasoulpour M, Tolentino N, Hadler JL, Hurwitz E (1989) Epidemiology of a cluster of Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Am J Dis Child 143: 798–803
Nielsen HE (1988) Epidemiology of Schönlein-Henoch purpura. Acta Paediatr Scand 77: 125–131
Davin J-C, Forget P, Mahieu PR (1988) Increased intestinal permeability to (51 Cr) EDTA is correlated with IgA immune complexplasma levels in children with IgA-associated nephropathies. Acta Paediatr Scand 77: 118–124
Coppo R, Basolo B, Rollino C, Roccatello D, Martina G, Amore A, Bongiorno G, Piccoli G (1986) Mediterranean diet and primary IgA nephropathy. Clin Nephrol 26: 72–82
Saulsbury FT, Pearl ER (1983) Cold reacting antinuclear antibody in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. J Clin Lab Immunol 12: 123–127
Goel KM, Shanks RA, Whaley K, Mason M, MacSween RN (1975) Autoantibodies in childhood connective tissue diseases and in normal children. Arch Dis Child 50: 419–423
Saulsbury FT (1986) Antinuclear antibody in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Am J Med Sci 291: 180–182
Saulsbury FT (1986) IgA rheumatoid factor in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. J Pediatr 108: 71–76
Jones CL, Powell HR, Kincai-Smith P, Roberton DM (1988) IgA rheumatoid factor in IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura (abstract). Kidney Int 33: 134
Monteiro RC, Chevailler A, Noel LH, Lesavre P (1988) Serum IgA preferentially binds to cationic polypeptides in IgA nephropathy. Clin Exp Immunol 73: 300–306
Saulsbury FT (1987) The role of IgA1 rheumatoid factor in the formation of IgA-containing immune complexes in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. J Clin Lab Immunol 23: 123–127
Knight JF, Harada T, Ghomas MA, Frampton G, Savage CO, Chantler C, Williams DG (1988) IgA rheumatoid factor and other autoantibodies in acute Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Contrib Nephrol 68: 117–120
Davin J-C, Malaise M, Foidart J, Mahieu P (1987) Anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies and immune complexes in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura or IgA nephropathy. Kidney Int 31: 1132–1139
Davin J-C, Malaise M, Foidart JB, Mahieu P (1987) Anti-alpha-galactosyl antibodies in the serum of children presenting with IgA-associated nephropathies. In: Cameron JS (ed) Abstracts of the Xth International Congress of Nephrology, London, pp 377
Davin J-C, Nagy J, Malaise M, Lombet J, Foidart JB, Dechenne C, Mahieu P (1987) Are IgA-lectin complexes involved in the pathogenesis of IgA-associated nephropathies? (abstract). Pediatric Nephrol 2: C8
Davin J-C, Dehenne D, Foidart JB, Lombet J, Mahieu P (1987) Experimental IgAN induced by IgA-lectin complexes (abstract). In: Cameron JS (ed) Abstracts of the Xth International Congress of Nephrology, London, p 321
Davin J-C, Dechenne C, Lombet J, Rentier B, Foidart JB, Mahieu PR (1990) Acute experimental glomerulonephritis induced by the glomerular deposition of circulating polymeric IgA-concanavalin A complexes. Virchows Arch [A] (in press).
Davin J-C, Malaise M, Foidart JB, Mahieu P (1987) Evidence that carbohydrates of the Fc domain of IgA are involved in the formation of large IgA immune complexes in IgA associated nephropathies (abstract). In: Cameron JS (ed) Abstracts of the Xth international Congress of Nephrology, London, p 322
Takahashi N (1987) N-linked oligosaccharides on IgG. Biochemistry 26: 1137–1144
Coppo R, Basolo B, Mazzucco G, Bulzomi MR, Roccatello D, Messina M, Barbiano G, Martina G, Rollino C, Piccoli G (1982) IgA1 and IgA2 in circulating immune complexes and in renal deposits of Berger's and Schönlein-Henoch glomerulonephritis. Proc Eur Dial Transplant Assoc 19: 648–654
Jones CL, Mermelstein N, Powell HR, Kincaid-Smith P, Roberton DM (1988) Serum polymeric IgA in IgA nephropathy (abstract). Kidney Int 33: 137
Artlett CM, Knight JF (1990) IgA nephropathy: demonstration of increased proportion of dimeric IgA by native PAGE and immunoblotting (abstract). Aust NZ J Med (in press)
Evans DJ, Williams DG, Peters DK, (1973) Glomerular deposition of properdin in Henoch-Schönlein syndrome and idiopathic focal nephritis. Br Med J 3: 326–328
Garcia-Fuentes M, Martin A, Chantler C, Williams DG (1978) Serum complement components in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Arch Dis Child 53: 417–419
Spitzer RE, Urmson JR, Farnett ML, Stitzel AE, Post EM (1978) Alteration of the complement system in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Clin Immunol Immunopathol 11: 52–59
Kauffmann RH, Herrmann WA, Meyer CJ, Daha MR, Van Es LA (1980) Circulating IgA-immune complexes in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. A longitudinal study of their relationship to disease activity and vascular depositon of IgA. Am J Med 69: 859–866
Rauterberg EW, Lieberknecht HM, Wingen AM, Ritz E (1987) Complement membrane attack (MAC) in idiopathic IgA-glomerulonephritis. Kidney Int 31: 820–829
Henriksson P, Hedner U, Nilsson IM (1977) Factor XIII (fibrin stabilising factor) in Henoch-Schönlein's purpura. Acta Paediatr Scand 66: 273–277
Rodriguez de Cordoba S, Rey-Campos J, Dykes DD, McAlpine PJ, Wong P, Rubinstein P (1988) Coagulation factor XIII B subunit is encoded by a gene linked to the regulator of complement activation (RCA) gene cluster in man. Immunogenetics 28: 452–454
Yoshioka K, Miyata H, Uraoka Y, Maki S (1981) Plasma factor XIII levels in children with renal disease. Nephron 27: 19–24
Barberio G, Manganaro R, Ruggeri C, Cambria R, Gattarello A (1981) Behaviour of coagulation parameters in the Schönlein-Henoch syndrome. Diagnostic value of factor XIII. Minerva Pediatr 22: 817–820
Dalens B, Beuzou MJ, Goumy P, Demeocq F, Menut G (1980) The prognostic value of factor XIII in Schönlein-Henoch purpura in childhood. Arch Fr Pediatr 37: 99–101
Dalens B, Travade P, Labbe A, Bezou MJ (1983) Diagnostic and prognostic value of fibrin stabilising factor in Schönlein-Henoch syndrome. Arch Dis Child 58: 12–14
Bost M, Kolodie L, Pouzol P, Dechelette E, Joannard A, Andreani P (1986) Thrombocytosis and reduced levels of factor VIII in rheumatoid purpura in children. Pediatrie 41: 401–411
Bianchini G, Lotti T, Fabbri P (1983) Fibrin deposits and fibrinolytic activity in Schönlein-Henoch syndrome. Int J Dermatol 22: 103–106
Tipping PG, Lowe MG, Holdsworth SR (1988) Glomerular macrophages express augmented procoagulant activity in experimental fibrin-related glomerulonephritis in rabbits. J Clin Invest 82: 1253–1259
Griswold WR, Simon G, McIntosh RM (1973) Anaphylactoid purpura, cold exposure, and cryofibrinogenemia. Ann Intern Med 78: 611–611
Cwazka WF, Sprenger JD, Naguwa SN, Birnberg FA (1979) Cryofibrinogenemia in Henoch-Schönlein purpura: report of a case. Arch Intern Med 139: 592–593
Rifal A, Chen A, Imal H (1987) Complement activation in experimental IgA nephropathy: an antigen-mediated process. Kidney Int 32: 838–844
Garcia-Fuentes M, Chantler C, Williams DG (1977) Cryoglobulinaemia in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Br Med J 2: 163–165
Levinsky RJ, Barratt TM (1979) IgA immune complexes in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Lancet II: 1100–1103
Hall RP, Lawley TJ, Heck JA, Katz SI (1980) IgA-containing circulating immune complexes in dermatitis herpetiformis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, systemic lupus erythematosus and other diseases. Clin Exp Immunol 40: 431–437
Kauffmann RH, Van Es LA, Daha MR (1981) The specific detection of IgA in immune complexes. J Immunol Methods 40: 117–129
Freycon MT, Parchoux B, Lepetit JC, Bethel H, Gebuher L (1982) Immunological studies of Schönlein-Henoch purpura. Int J Pediatr Nephrol 3: 223–224
Kasai N, Parbtani A, Cameron JS, Yewdall V, Shepherd P, Verrousti P (1981) Platelet-aggregating immune complexes and intraplatelet serotonin in idiopathic glomerulonephritis and systemic lupus. Clin Exp Immunol 43: 64–72
Coppo R, Basolo B, Piccoli G, Mazzucco G, Bulzomi MR (1984) IgA1 and IgA2 immune complexes in primary IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein nephritis. Clin Exp Immunol 57: 583–590
Coppo R, Basolo B, Mazzucco G, Bulzomi MR, Roccatello D (1983) IgA1 and IgA2 in circulating immune complexes and in renal deposits of Berger's and Schönlein-Henoch glomerulonephritis. Proc Eur Dial Transplant Assoc 19: 648–654
Coppo R, Basolo B, Martina G, Rollino C, De Marchi M (1982) Circulating immune complexes containing IgA, IgG and IgM in patients with primary IgA nephropathy and with Henoch-Schoenlein nephritis. Correlation with clinical and histologic signs of activity. Clin Nephrol 18: 230–239
Coppo R, De Marchi M, Aprato A, Roccatello D, Messina M (1980) A new test for IgA containing immune complexes or aggregated IgA: its application to Berger and Schönlein-Henoch nephritis. Proc Eur Dial Transplant Assoc 17: 657–672
Jujho K, Tsuda M, Furukawa S, Yabuta K (1986) Study on peripheral blood nononuclear cell subpopulations in renal diseases (abstract). Pediatr Nephrol 1: C68
Musumeci S, Sciotto A, Rosalba A, Volti SL, Mollica F (1980) Lymphocyte subpopulations in anaphylactoid purpura. Arch Dis Child 55: 541–543
Beale MG, Nash GS, Bertovich MJ, MacDermott RP (1983) RP (1983) Evidence of enhanced immunoglobulin synthesis and defective immune regulation in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Contrib Nephrol 35: 46–60
Beale MG, Nash GS, Bertovich MJ, MacDermott RP (1982) Similar disturbances in B cell activity and reulatory T cell function in Henoch-Schönlein purpura and systemic lupus erythematosus. J Immunol 128: 486–491
Bannister KM, Drew PA, Clarkson AR, Woodroffe AJ (1983) Immunoregulation in glomerulonephritis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura and lupus nephritis. Clin Exp Immunol 53: 384–390
Casanueva B, Rodriguez-Valverde V, Merino J, Arias M, Garcia-Fuentes M (1983) Increased igA-producing cells in the blood of patients with active Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Arthritis Rheum 26: 854–860
Casanueva B, Rodriguez-Valverde V, Luceno A (1988) Circulating IgA producing cells in the differential diagnosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura. J Rheumatol 15: 1229–33
Turi S, Belch JJ, Beattie TJ (1985) Changes in serum prostaglandin metabolites in Schönlein-Henoch purpura. Orv Hetil 126: 1901–1904
Turi S, Belch JJ, Beattie TJ, Forbes CD (1986) Abnormalities of vascular prostaglandins in Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Arch Dis Child 61: 173–177
Turi S, Nagy J, Haszon I, Havass Z, Nemeth M, Bereczki C (1988) Disturbances of lipoprotein and PGI2 metabolism in IgA nephropathy and Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Contrib Nephrol 67: 117–20
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Knight, J.F. The rheumatic poison: a survey of some published investigations of the immunopathogenesis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Pediatr Nephrol 4, 533–541 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00869841
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00869841