To describe a possible relationship between Henoch-Schönlein purpura and rheumatic fever.
Patients with features of both diseases were identified by reviewing the hospital records. Medline and reference lists from published articles were used to search for previous reports of the two conditions occuring simultaneously.
Three newly described cases, and three previous reports of Henoch-Schönlein purpura associated with rheumatic carditis or chorea were identified.
The coexistence of these two disorders in some patients supports the view that Group A streptococcus may have a pathogenic role in Henoch-Schönlein purpura.