Clinico-pathological association of Henoch-Schoenlein purpura nephritis and IgA nephropathy in children

Objective: Henoch-Schonlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) are similar syndromes. We aimed to determine whether the crescent formation/immunocomplex in glomeruli is associated with the differences of the biochemical indexes between HSPN and IgAN. Methods: We investigated the medical records of 137 HSPN cases and 41 IgAN cases from January 2009 to April 2014 in Nanjing Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. The clinical and pathological data were analyzed and compared between HSPN and IgAN. Results: HSPN patients had markedly higher levels of blood white blood cell (WBC), hemoglobulin (Hb) and platelet (PLT), lower levels of hematuria, blood nitrogen (BUN) and C4 compared with IgAN cases. Crescents formation and C3 deposition in the kidney did not affect these differences. Significantly lower levels of hematuria, blood IgG, IgM and C4 in HSPN compared with IgAN cases were observed among patients with IgG deposition. Markedly higher levels of WBC and Hb, lower levels of hematuria, creatinine (Cr), C4 in HSPN compared with IgAN cases were observed among patients with IgM deposition. No marked differences of the biochemical indexes were noted between HSPN and IgAN cases among patients with C1q deposition. Markedly higher levels of WBC and Hb, lower level of blood C4 in HSPN compared with IgAN cases were observed among patients with fibrogen deposition. Conclusions: The different levels of biochemical indexes at presentation between HSPN and IgAN may be associated with the deposition of IgG, IgM, C1q and fibrogen in the kidney.