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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the epidemiological and clinical profile of children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) in eastern Saudi Arabia during a 15-year period. METHODS: The medical records of children discharged with a diagnosis of HSP from King Fahad Hospital of the University, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia, between January 1996, and December 2010, were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of 78 patients, 46 (59%) were boys, with a male to female ratio of 1.4:1. The patients9 ages ranged from 22 months to 12 years, with a mean of 6.3 years. Approximately 60% of cases were presented during autumn and winter. Upper respiratory tract infection preceded HSP in over half of the patients and antistreptolyzin O (ASO) titer was positive in 11 of the 24 (46%) children tested at presentation. The main clinical features included skin purpura (100%), arthritis or arthralgia (66%), gastrointestinal manifestation (47%), orchitis (15%) of boys, and nephritis (24%). One patient with severe nephritis developed pulmonary hemorrhage and acute respiratory distress syndrome. Eleven (14%) patients received corticosteroid therapy. All children made a full recovery, only one patient with nephritis continued to have hypertension at 2 years follow up. Symptoms recurred in 6 (7.7%) patients over a period ranging from one month to 2 years. CONCLUSION: Henoch-Schonlein purpura is a mild disease in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia and with no significant differences in the epidemic and clinical profile than that reported elsewhere.

Article Type

Research Article

First Page

973

Last Page

978

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