Henoch-Schonlein Purpura in Northeast India: Peculiarities in Presentation

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common childhood vasculitis characterized by leukocytoclastic vasculitis. This study was done to describe the presentation and immediate outcome of children admitted to HSP at our Institute.

This retrospective study was conducted on children with HSP admitted to our department over a period of 7 years (January 2010 until December 2016).

Twenty-three children with a diagnosis of HSP were identified during the study period. The mean age was 9.4 years (4 years to 16 years). There were 15 girls and 8 boys with a male: female ratio of 1:1.9. The youngest child was 4 years old and most of the children (73.9%) were in the age group 5-12 years. Forty percent of the children presented between January and March. Major manifestations were rash (100%), joint pain (52%), renal involvement (52%), and abdominal pain (47.8%). Three (13.0%) children presented with systemic manifestations before the appearance of the rash. One child had MPGN 2 years before the onset of rash. There was no mortality. Most of the children recovered well; six (26%) had persistent hypertension and three (13%) had persistent proteinuria. Hypertensive emergency was seen in two children. One child had intussusception that resolved spontaneously.

This study is the first study of Henoch Schonlein purpura from northeast India documenting certain peculiarities in the presentation. The results indicate a wide spectrum of presentations in HSP