RESUMO
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the clinical effect and mechanism of hemoperfusion (HP) in the treatment of children with severe abdominal Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 24 children with severe abdominal HSP were divided into two groups: conventional treatment and HP (n=12 each). Ten healthy children who underwent physical examination were enrolled as the control group. Before and after treatment, chemiluminescence was used to measure the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α); thiobarbituric acid colorimetry was used to measure the plasma level of malondialdehyde (MDA); the hydroxylamine method was used to measure the plasma level of superoxide dismutase (SOD); chemical colorimetry was used to measure the plasma level of total anti-oxidant capability (T-AOC).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Compared with the control group, the conventional treatment and HP groups had significantly higher IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA levels and significantly lower SOD and T-AOC levels before treatment (P<0.05), but there were no significant differences between the conventional treatment and HP groups (P>0.05). After treatment, the conventional treatment and HP groups had significant reductions in IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA levels and significant increases in SOD and T-AOC levels (P<0.05). The HP group had significantly greater changes than the conventional treatment group; however, there were still significant differences in these indices between the HP and control groups (P<0.05). Compared with the HP group, the conventional treatment group had a significantly lower percentage of children with disappearance of digestive tract symptoms at 4 days after treatment and significantly longer time to disappearance of rash and digestive tract symptoms (P<0.05). Compared with the conventional treatment group, the HP group had a significantly lower amount of glucocorticoid used during treatment and a significantly lower percentage of children who experienced hematuria and/or proteinuria within 6 months of the disease course (P<0.05). There were no significant differences between the two groups in length of hospital stay and recurrence rates of rash and abdominal pain within 6 months of the disease course.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>HP can reduce the amount of glucocorticoid used during treatment and the incidence rate of kidney injury in children with severe abdominal HSP, possibly by eliminating IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA.</p>