[Schönlein-Henoch syndrome in children. Clinico-epidemiologic analysis of 170 cases]

The clinical and epidemiological data of 170 patients aged between 8 months and 13 yrs 9 months hospitalised for Schönlein-Henoch syndrome in the period 1976-87 have been analysed. There were more females than males (78/92); a triggering event, usually inflammation of the first airways, was identified in 58% of patients. In 60% of cases onset was autumn-winter. Extrarenal symptoms infrequently take on a certain degree of clinical gravity. Nephropathy is observed, at onset (30%) or some time later from one month to 3 years and 3 months (7.6%), is seen in 37.6% of patients. In all, 7/64 (11%) of patients were at stage D of nephropathy at the end of follow-up. 2 of these began with IRA, 2 with nephritic syndrome, 2 with hypertension and one with monosymptomatic microhaematuria. The latter figure suggests that this symptom should not be underestimated at onset and its course should be followed closely. The mesangium was the primary localisation in the 6 patients biopsied. Finally, there do not appear to be any substantial differences between patients treated and those not treated with corticosteroids and/or anti-platelet aggregators, in agreement with what most authors state.