Treatment of severe Henoch-Schönlein nephritis: justifying more immunosuppression

The prognosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) nephritis is more severe than originally thought, with a significant portion progressing to deterioration of renal function in adulthood. Proteinuria adversely affects the outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial single-center...

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Main Authors: Fatma Semsa Altugan, Seza Ozen, Nuray Aktay-Ayaz, Safak Güçer, Rezan Topaloğlu, Ali Düzova, Fatih Ozaltin, Nesrin Beşbaş
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Hacettepe University Institute of Child Health 2009-12-01
Series:The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
Online Access:https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/2356
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author Fatma Semsa Altugan
Seza Ozen
Nuray Aktay-Ayaz
Safak Güçer
Rezan Topaloğlu
Ali Düzova
Fatih Ozaltin
Nesrin Beşbaş
author_facet Fatma Semsa Altugan
Seza Ozen
Nuray Aktay-Ayaz
Safak Güçer
Rezan Topaloğlu
Ali Düzova
Fatih Ozaltin
Nesrin Beşbaş
author_sort Fatma Semsa Altugan
collection DOAJ
description The prognosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) nephritis is more severe than originally thought, with a significant portion progressing to deterioration of renal function in adulthood. Proteinuria adversely affects the outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial single-center results of a treatment protocol for severe HSP nephritis based on the Heaton classification. Age, gender, clinical features and duration of disease follow-up were assessed. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinalysis and 24-hour urinary protein excretion were analyzed. All patients with severe renal involvement were biopsied and a treatment plan was assigned: Class II received oral steroids, Class III (with crescentic nephritis) received additional oral cyclophosphamide 2 mg/kg/d for 12 weeks, and Classes IV and V received azathioprine for 9 months subsequent to the treatment for Class III. All patients received angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors regardless of their blood pressure values. Eighteen patients presenting with severe HSP nephritis, defined as heavy proteinuria and/or decreased renal function, were evaluated. Based on the renal histology, 5, 10, 1 and 2 of the patients were classified as Classes II, III, IV and V, respectively. At presentation, 7 of the patients had impaired renal function with GFR below 75 ml/min/1.73 m2. With the presented treatment schema, all GFR returned to normal at the end of four years of follow-up. There was no proteinuria in any of the patients; only 8 had microscopic hematuria. This preliminary study suggests a stepwise treatment according to the renal histology. The excellent results with complete disappearance of proteinuria and normal renal function justify the use of the aforementioned immunosuppressive protocol with ACE inhibition. Long-term, multicenter controlled studies are needed to verify our results.
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spelling doaj-art-7f9596d8cc51491a95c4bfed2b2e08032025-08-20T02:55:24ZengHacettepe University Institute of Child HealthThe Turkish Journal of Pediatrics0041-43012791-64212009-12-01516Treatment of severe Henoch-Schönlein nephritis: justifying more immunosuppressionFatma Semsa Altugan0Seza OzenNuray Aktay-AyazSafak GüçerRezan TopaloğluAli DüzovaFatih OzaltinNesrin BeşbaşUnit of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey. The prognosis of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) nephritis is more severe than originally thought, with a significant portion progressing to deterioration of renal function in adulthood. Proteinuria adversely affects the outcome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the initial single-center results of a treatment protocol for severe HSP nephritis based on the Heaton classification. Age, gender, clinical features and duration of disease follow-up were assessed. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR), urinalysis and 24-hour urinary protein excretion were analyzed. All patients with severe renal involvement were biopsied and a treatment plan was assigned: Class II received oral steroids, Class III (with crescentic nephritis) received additional oral cyclophosphamide 2 mg/kg/d for 12 weeks, and Classes IV and V received azathioprine for 9 months subsequent to the treatment for Class III. All patients received angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors regardless of their blood pressure values. Eighteen patients presenting with severe HSP nephritis, defined as heavy proteinuria and/or decreased renal function, were evaluated. Based on the renal histology, 5, 10, 1 and 2 of the patients were classified as Classes II, III, IV and V, respectively. At presentation, 7 of the patients had impaired renal function with GFR below 75 ml/min/1.73 m2. With the presented treatment schema, all GFR returned to normal at the end of four years of follow-up. There was no proteinuria in any of the patients; only 8 had microscopic hematuria. This preliminary study suggests a stepwise treatment according to the renal histology. The excellent results with complete disappearance of proteinuria and normal renal function justify the use of the aforementioned immunosuppressive protocol with ACE inhibition. Long-term, multicenter controlled studies are needed to verify our results. https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/2356
spellingShingle Fatma Semsa Altugan
Seza Ozen
Nuray Aktay-Ayaz
Safak Güçer
Rezan Topaloğlu
Ali Düzova
Fatih Ozaltin
Nesrin Beşbaş
Treatment of severe Henoch-Schönlein nephritis: justifying more immunosuppression
The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
title Treatment of severe Henoch-Schönlein nephritis: justifying more immunosuppression
title_full Treatment of severe Henoch-Schönlein nephritis: justifying more immunosuppression
title_fullStr Treatment of severe Henoch-Schönlein nephritis: justifying more immunosuppression
title_full_unstemmed Treatment of severe Henoch-Schönlein nephritis: justifying more immunosuppression
title_short Treatment of severe Henoch-Schönlein nephritis: justifying more immunosuppression
title_sort treatment of severe henoch schonlein nephritis justifying more immunosuppression
url https://turkjpediatr.org/article/view/2356
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