PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Lardhi, Amer A.
TI  - Henoch-Schonlein purpura in children from the eastern province of Saudi Arabia
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 973--978
VI  - 33
IP  - 9
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/33/9/973.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/33/9/973.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2012 Sep 01; 33
AB  - 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 patients' 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.