Henoch-Schönlein purpura in north-eastern Turkey.

AIM: To evaluate the epidemiological and clinical findings in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) admitted during a 10-year period, 1995 to 2004, and to compare them with series from other parts of the world.

METHODS

The medical records of all children aged 17 years or less admitted with a diagnosis of HSP to the Department of Pediatrics of Karadeniz Technical University were evaluated retrospectively for epidemiological and clinical features.

RESULTS

Of 116 children, 73 (63%) were boys. The mean (SD) age at presentation was 8.9 (3.7) years and one-third of them were older than 10 years of age. Over half the cases presented between September and January. All patients had the typical skin rash. Gastro-intestinal manifestations were seen in 64 (55.1%) and joint manifestations, common during the early course of the disease, in 73 (62.9%). Two patients required laparatomy, one for acute abdomen and the other for bowel resection owing to intussusception. Renal manifestations were observed in 36 (31%), all within 3 months of initial symptoms, and one patient (0.8%) with nephritic syndrome progressed to end-stage renal disease. Five patients had hypertension without urinary findings. Symptoms recurred in eight patients (6.9%) over a period ranging from 2 to 5 months after complete resolution of symptoms. There was a history of a preceding upper respiratory tract infection in 16 (13.7%) and a streptococcal infection was confirmed by throat culture in 12 of the 42 (28.5%) children at presentation.

CONCLUSION

HSP is generally benign and self-limiting. Hypertension may be seen during the course of the disease without urinary findings. In this area, it seems to affect older children and there is a relatively lower incidence of renal manifestations.