Diagnosis

Diagnosis of AP is based on the symptoms and their development, a careful medical history, and blood and urine tests. X rays or computed tomography scans (CT) may be performed to assess complications in the bowel or other internal organs.

Treatment

Most cases of AP resolve completely without treatment. Nonetheless, a hospital stay is required because of the possibility of serious complications. Non-aspirin pain relievers may be given for joint pain. Corticosteroids (like prednisone) are sometimes used, although not all specialists agree on their utility. Kidney involvement requires monitoring and correction of blood fluids and electrolytes.
Patients with severe kidney complications may require a kidney biopsy so that tissue can be analyzed. Even after all other symptoms subside, elevated levels of blood or protein in the urine may persist for months and require regular monitoring. Hypertension or kidney failure may develop months or even years after the acute phase of the disease. Kidney failure requires dialysis or transplantation.
Plasmapheresis, which removes antibodies from the blood, has been tried for AP with mixed results.

Prognosis

Most people who develop AP become better on their own after several weeks. About half of all patients have at least one recurrence. Cases that do not have kidney complications usually have the best prognosis.

Key Terms:

Glomeruli
Knots of capillaries in the kidneys responsible for filtering the blood (singular, glomerulus).

Resources:

Periodicals
• Andreoli, S. P. "Chronic Glomerulonephritis in Childhood. Membranoproliferative Glomerulonephritis, Henoch-Schonlein PurpuraNnephritis, and IgA Nephropathy." Pediatric Clinics of North America 42, no. 6 (Dec. 1995): 1487-1503.

Other
• "Henoch-Schonlein Purpura." Vanderbilt University Medical Center.