Scrotal involvement in childhood Henoch-Schönlein purpura.
OBJECTIVE
Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a common childhood systemic vasculitis involving the skin, gastrointestinal tract, joint, kidneys and even scrotum.


METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and laboratory data of 120 male patients with HSP and also evaluated the risk factors for scrotal involvement and the relation between scrotal involvement and other clinical features. Twenty-six out of 120 boys (21.7%) diagnosed with HSP had scrotal involvement.


RESULTS
Scrotal symptoms manifested as swelling in 88.5% and pain (or tenderness) in 69.2% of HSP patients with scrotal involvement. Neurologic symptoms, mainly headache and localized edema among various manifestations and high serum C3 level of laboratory profiles were more frequently observed in scrotal-involved group than in those of non-involved group. However, there was no difference in the outcomes of scrotal symptoms according to therapeutic modalities and the occurrence of scrotal involvement had no correlation with renal involvement from acute to chronic phase.


CONCLUSIONS
We found that neurologic symptoms, localized edema and high serum C3 level show a significant relation with scrotal involvement in male HSP patients. Because scrotal involvement in male HSP patients is not rare, the accurate early diagnosis of HSP is mandatory by the early notification of purpura and imaging evaluations in order to avoid unnecessary procedures.
Ha
Tae-Sun
TS
Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University Hospital, Cheongju, Korea. tsha@chungbuk.ac.kr
Lee
Jin-Seok
JS
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003176:Complement C3 / Q000378:metabolism; D004487:Edema / Q000209:etiology*; D004823:Epididymitis / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D011695:IgA Vasculitis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009920:Orchitis / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012611:Scrotum
D003176:Complement C3