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.
Kumar
L
L
Department of Pediatrics, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Eduation and Research, Chandigarh.
Singh
S
S
Goraya
J S
JS
Uppal
B
B
Kakkar
S
S
Walker
R
R
Sehgal
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male