J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol.  2008 Oct;12(2):170-177.

Comparison of Clinical Outcome According to the Duration of Corticosteroid Therapy in Childhood Henoch-Schonlein Purpura: a Bicentric Stud y

• Lee SJ
• Shin JI
• Lee CG
• Kim KH

Abstract

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the incidence of relapse or nephritis might be influenced by the duration of corticosteroid therapy in children with Henoch-Schonlein purpura(HSP).
METHODS
We retrospectively analyzed 186 children with a diagnosis of HSP in two major hospitals in Ilsan, Korea from the years 2000 to 2003. To evaluate whether renal involvement or relapse might be influenced by the duration of corticosteroid therapy in children with HSP, one pediatric nephrologist from hospital A, maintained corticosteroid therapy for at least 2 weeks(Group A, n=94). The other from hospital B used only during the symptomatic period(Group B, n=92).
RESULTS
There were no significant differences in age, sex, body weight, white blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, serum protein and albumin levels between the two groups. The incidence of abdominal pain or arthralgia also did not differ between two groups. However, the duration of steroid therapy was significantly longer in Group A than in Group B and the cumulative dose of prednisolone was also higher in Group A than in Group B. The development of nephritis was more frequent in Group A.
CONCLUSION
The longer duration of steroid use was not associated with the decreased rate of nephritis. Therefore, corticosteroids should be used carefully in a selected group of HSP children, and be tapered rapidly after control of the acute symptoms.

Keyword

Henoch-Schonlein purpura; Corticosteroid; Duration; Nephritis; Relapse

MeSH Terms

Abdominal Pain
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Arthralgia
Body Weight
Child
Hematocrit
Hemoglobins
Humans
Incidence
Korea
Leukocyte Count
Nephritis
Platelet Count
Prednisolone
Purpura, Schoenlein-Henoch
Recurrence
Retrospective Studies
Adrenal Cortex Hormones
Hemoglobins
Prednisolone