[Value of echography in the diagnosis of hematomas of the digestive tract wall in rheumatoid purpura].

Three cases of Henoch-Schönlein purpura with intramural hematoma of the duodenum, jejunum or colon are reported. In the first 2 cases, there was complete agreement between the X-ray and ultrasonographic data: multiple thumb print defects and irregular narrowing of the digestive lumen, and thickening of the intestinal wall, respectively. Ultrasonography was the only investigation performed in the third case. Finally, in 2 of 3 cases an exudative enteropathy of unclear mechanism was discovered.