Pediatric vasculitis: a single center experience.

BACKGROUND

Existing studies of children with vasculitis are limited. The aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, course, and outcome of Greek children presenting with vasculitic rash.

METHODS

The relevant data included in the study were collected retrospectively using a standardized form from children who were admitted into our department between 2003 and 2013, with the provisional diagnosis of vasculitis of the skin.

RESULTS

The study sample consisted of 95 children (58 boys, 37 girls) with a mean age of 5.9 years. In total, 76 out of 95 (80%) of the children were diagnosed with Henoch-Schönlein purpura, 10/95 (10.5%) with hypersensitivity vasculitis, 6/95 (6.3%) with urticarial vasculitis, and 3/95 (3.1%) with acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy. The mean age of the children was 5.7 years for Henoch-Schönlein purpura, 9 years for hypersensitivity vasculitis, 5.1 years for urticarial vasculitis, and 0.5 years for acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy.

CONCLUSIONS

(i) The most common vasculitis presenting with skin rash in children is Henoch-Schönlein purpura; (ii) hypersensitivity vasculitis occurs in older children more often when compared to other types of vasculitis; (iii) urticarial vasculitis lesions may be a sign of severe underlying disease; therefore a thorough examination of these patients is warranted; (iv) Despite relapses, the overall prognosis of patients with pediatric skin vasculitides is good, with the exception of those with the urticarial vasculitis type.