Henoch-Schonlein purpura: the Chandigarh experience.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the clinical profile of children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP).


METHODS
Hospital based descriptive follow-up study.


METHODS
45 patients attending the Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology clinic over the last 4 years.


RESULTS
The patients were aged between 2.5-12 years with a male to female ratio of 2:1. All cases had palpable purpura. Gastrointestinal involvement was seen in 38 patients, with abdominal pain in 35 (78%) and lower GI bleed in 21 (47%). Large joint arthritis occurred in 60%. Renal involvement was seen in 14 subjects (31%). Major renal involvement occurred in 9 patients, with nephritic syndrome in 6 and nephrotic syndrome in 3 cases. Five patients had minor urinary abnormalities; 6 patients with major renal involvement and crescentic glomerulonephritis were treated with high dose pulse steroid therapy followed by oral prednisolone and azathioprine for 12-18 months. Normalization of urinary abnormalities occurred in these patients over 4-8 months and presently all are normotensive and off antihypertensive drugs.


CONCLUSIONS
HSP in children is a common form of vasculitis. Though short term results in HSP nephritis have been good, long term prognosis in those with major renal involvement would remain guarded.
Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Eduation and Research, Chandigarh.
L
L
Kumar
S
S
Singh
J S
JS
Goraya
B
B
Uppal
S
S
Kakkar
R
R
Walker
S
S
Sehgal
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male