Letters to the Editor

Abstract

2 May 2008 Dear Editor, PLASMA FACTOR XIII LEVELS IN HSP PANCREATITIS: RESPONSE TO SHIN ET AL. Shin et al. comment on our case report entitled ‘Acute pancreatitis: a rare presenting feature of Henoch Schonlein purpura’. They remind that plasma factor XIII is useful for the early diagnosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). Also, they proposed that this factor might have been decreased at pancreatitis preceeding HSP. Although, plasma factor XIII level is a well-known early diagnostic marker and commonly used in estimating the prognosis, it has not been reported in HSP pancreatitis previously. We also agree that plasma factor XIII levels can be evaluated to elucidate incidence of pancreatic involvement in HSP. It would be better for the readers if the authors would like to include the factor XIII levels in their two cases of HSP pancreatitis during their 12-year experience.