Organ involvement in immunoglobulin a vasculitis (Henoch-Shönlein purpura) children: Relation to immune profile

Abstract

Aim of the workThe aim of this work was to study the pattern of immunoglobulin A (IgA) vasculitis organ involvement distribution in a cohort of patients in Turkey and to determine the relation to immune profile biomarkers. Patients and methodsTwo hundred and sixteen IgA vasculitis children were evaluated. Demographic characteristics, organ involvements, laboratory findings and immunological factors accompanying joint, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and renal involvements were investigated through the data retrieved from patient files and hospital records. ResultsAll patients had palpable purpuric skin involvement, GIT involvement was present in 37%, joint involvement in 55.4% and renal in 31.5%. Leucocytosis was present in 46.3%, thrombocytosis in 20.4%, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate in 63%, positive C-reactive protein in 37%, antistroptolysin-O titre in 33.3%, high IgA in 13% and IgE in 24.1%. Patients with renal involvement had higher mean age and higher hemoglobin levels than those without (p < 0.05). The frequency of severe renal involvement was higher in patients with GIT involvement (p = 0.012). C4 levels and platelet counts were higher in patients with joint involvement than in those without (p = 0.04 and p = 0.02, respectively). Antinuclear antibody (ANA), anti-double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (anti dsDNA), rheumatoid factor (RF), and perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) were negative, while factor XIII, fibrinogen, and von Willebrand factor (vWF) levels were normal. ConclusionsOlder age and GIT involvement in IgA vasculitis affect renal involvement and may lead to nephrotic-level proteinuria. In contrast, ANA, anti-dsDNA, RF, ANCA, factor XIII, fibrinogen and vWF levels were not related to organ involvement.