9 Analysis of Henoch-Schonlein Purpura in Adults and

ABSTRACT. This is a retrospective study of all patients admitted to King Ab-dulaziz University Hospital between 1983 and 1999 with Henoch-Schonlein Purpura. Twenty-four patients (18 children and 6 adults with the ratio of 3:1) were analyzed. Seventy-one percent were Saudis and 29 % non-Saudis. The mean age of the children was 5.9 years of age and 32 years of age in adults. Preceding upper respiratory tract infection was found in 50 % of patients. Skin lesions were the most common presentation in both groups, followed by ab-dominal pain which occurred in children only, and joint pain in 5 (6%) chil-dren and 16 (7%) adults. Supportive treatment was used in the majority of children while all adults required steroid administration. Outcome was good in all patients except 1 adult who died of gastrointestinal bleeding and jejunal perforation. Results of this study were comparable with other reports. No sig-nificant relation between URTI and severity of skin involvement with the de-velopment of complications and mortality was found