Henoch Schonlein Purpura, with Special Reference to Renal Involvement: An Experience at SKIMS

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Henoch Schonlein Purpura (HSP) or anaphylactoid purpuracharacterized by purpura, arthritis, abdominal pain, glomerulonephritis and gastrointestinal bleed, is one of the most common types of vasculitis of childhood. We see patients of HSP from all parts of Kashmir in our department at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS). Many of these patients develop complications and invariably have critical hospital course.

OBJECTIVES: To study the epidemiology, clinical spectrum and outcome of HSP patients seen at SKIMS.

METHODS: Patients of HSP who visited our hospital over last 6 years, between November 2005 and October 2011, were studied for the epidemiological aspects, clinical presentation, complications, duration of purpura and response to treatment in the our Pediatric department.

RESULTS: HSP patients constituted approximately 0.32% of total admissions. Purpura was present in all patients, 83.95% had arthritis, 80.24% had abdominal symptoms, 35.80% patients had persistent purpura and 34.56% patients had nephritis

CONCLUSION: Majority of HSP patients are in the age group of 6-12 years. Renal involvement is more common in older age group; steroids seem have a role in preventing the severity of nephritis in HSP. JMS 2012;15(2):128-31