Analysis of clinical characteristics of Henoch-Schonlein purpura patients from different altitudes in plateau areas / 北京大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE@#To investigate the clinical characteristics of Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) patients from different altitudes in Tibet plateau areas of China.@*METHODS@#A retrospective study was used to analyze the 190 HSP patients admitted to Tibet Autonomous Region People ' s Hospital form April 2014 to May 2021. The subjects were divided into 3 groups according to the altitude of long-term residence before onset and the clinical data at different altitudes were compared and analyzed.@*RESULTS@#There were no significant differences in the age of onset and gender in HSP patients at different altitudes (P>0.05). The HSP patients in high altitude areas were more likely to have digestive symptoms (P < 0.01). The patients were more likely to have kidney or joint involvement at higher altitudes. The platelets [(512.1±55.0)×109 /L] and C reactive protein [11.2 (5.7, 19.4) g/L] in high altitude areas were significantly higher than at medium altitudes [(498.3±76.9)×109 /L and 9.5 (4.6, 13.5) g/L] and lower altitudes [(456.4±81.2)×109/L and 3.7 (0.2, 8.9) g/L] respectively. The effective rate of treatment was 98.9%, while there was no significant difference of outcome from different altitudes (P>0.05). The patients who were repeatedly hospitalized all had kidney involvement and no immunosuppressive agents were added in the initial treatment.@*CONCLUSION@#HSP is common in high altitude areas. There was little difference in age of onset and gender at different altitudes. Abdominal pain was the most common clinical manifestation. Patients in high altitude areas were more likely to have severe abdominal problems. Kidney involvement may be poor prognostic factor. Early application of glucocorticoid combined with immunosuppressive agents can effectively control the disease and reduce the recurrence of HSP.