Henoch-Schonlein purpura in pediatrics: Ten years of experience at a moderate risk office of a general hospital.

Introduction: Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is the most common small vessel leukocytoclastic vasculitis during childhood. It is characterized by palpable purpura and/or joint, abdominal or renal involvement.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and evolutionary characteristics of patients with HSP.

Population And Methods: Observational, descriptive, and retrospective study. Patients younger than 15 years who met the Ankara criteria for HSP diagnosis were included in the period between 1/1/2008 and 12/31/2017.

Results: A total of 339 patients with HSP were included; the male/female distribution was similar; their average age at onset was 7.02 years (± 3.02). The typical form was observed in 78 % and the atypical form, in 22 %, with joint involvement prior to purpura onset. Joint manifestations: 82 %; abdominal involvement: 54 %; renal manifestations: 19 %. Among patients with renal involvement, 68 % experienced it in the first month after onset. The most common symptom was isolated hematuria, and 22 % of patients with renal involvement had moderate to severe nephritis. Recurrences were observed in 15 % of patients.

Conlusion: Joint manifestations were more common than what has been described in other series, whereas renal involvement was less common. Although it usually occurs in the first months of disease onset, it is worth noting that these patients need follow-up with urinary and blood pressure controls as part of their pediatric assessment.