Effect of animal protein diet on the prognosis of children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura.

Objectives: To study the association of animal protein diet with the recurrence of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP)/skin rash and the risk factors for recurrence of HSP.

Methods: A prospective analysis was performed for 121 children with HSP who were admitted to the Beijing Children's Hospital from October to December 2020. The children were given the doctor's advice of the same diet (animal protein diet could be added after 1 week without new-onset skin rash). Follow-up was performed at the outpatient service for half a year. According to the presence or absence of animal protein intake, the children were divided into an observation group with 65 children and a control group with 56 children. The times of skin rash recurrence, the incidence of HSP recurrence, and the incidence of kidney injury were compared between the two groups. According to the presence or absence of recurrence, the children were divided into a recurrence group with 32 children and a non-recurrence group with 89 children. A questionnaire on food frequency was used to record the daily intake of animal protein in the two groups. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for recurrence of HSP in children.

Results: There was no significant difference between the observation and control groups in the times of skin rash recurrence, the incidence rate of HSP recurrence, and the incidence rate of kidney injury (>0.05). There was no significant difference in the daily intake of animal protein between the recurrence and non-recurrence groups (>0.05). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that presence of kidney injury at initial onset, respiratory infection after cure for the first time, and lack of exercise control after cure for the first time were independent risk factors for the recurrence of HSP in children (<0.05).

Conclusions: There is no significant association between animal protein diet and the recurrence of HSP or skin rash. Timely treatment of kidney injury, avoidance of infection after cure, and limitation of strenuous exercise may help to reduce the recurrence rate of HSP in children. .