In Reply.—In their letter, according to our report, Garty et al stressed the multiple possible etiology of Schönlein-Henoch purpura. However, the purpose of our article was also to underline the pathogenetic role of hepatitis B virus in diseases characterized by a systemic vasculitis, as in Schönlein-Henoch purpura.
The case reported by Garty et al is certainly interesting even if diagnosis of acute HAV always must be supported by the presence of specific IgM, overall in the Mediterranean area where the percentage of children seropositive for total anti-HAV is high. If a direct link between a common infection, such as acute hepatitis A, and Schönlein-Henoch purpura is postulated, it is surprising that such an association was never reported up to now.