Incidence of renal complications in Schönlein—Henoch purpura syndrome in dependence of an early administration of steriods

Abstract

Between 1976 and 1986, the authors treated 33 children with Schönlein-Henoch purpura (S-H purpura), with physiological urinary finding on admission. Twentythree of them received prednisone already at the beginning of hospitalization, 10 were not given any prednisone at all. In patients with prednisone, nephropathy occurred only once (4.3%), in those without prednisone it occurred 5 times (50%), the incidence being thus significantly higher. Prednisone was administered in doses ranging between 1.0 and 2.5 mg/kg body mass/day, on an average for 21 days (first 10 days in the same dose, later in reduced doses). Since there is a general lack of data on the positive effect of steroids upon the prevention of nephropathies in S-H purpura, the authors recommend more thorough studies in the initial stage of the disease (before the development of nephropathies).