Objective: To find out which of the clinical manifestations or laboratory findings is the predictive factor of severe renal involvement in children with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura (HSP).
Material and method: Data of clinical manifestations and laboratory findings in children with HSP at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health between January 2003-December 2007 were prospectively collected and analyzed.
Results: There were 168 cases, 86 boys and 82 girls (M:F ratio= 1.05:1), the age ranged from 2 to 15 years (mean +/- SD = 6.9 +/- 2.6 years, mode = 6.8 years). Development of severe renal involvement was identified in 11 cases (6.6%). Abnormal urinalysis (microscopic hematuria or proteinuria) on the day of diagnosis was statistically significant (p < 0.001) as a predictive factor of severe renal involvement during follow-up. Early systemic corticosteroid administration due to severe abdominal pain was not statistically significantly different between the patients with or without severe renal involvement.
Conclusion: Abnormal urinalysis on the day of diagnosis was the only predictive factor of severe renal involvement in children with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura. Early systemic corticosteroid administration due to severe abdominal pain did not prevent severe renal involvement.