Vasculitis in childhood

Myocarditis and intracardiac thrombus due to Henoch-Schönlein purpura: case report and literature review

Cardiac involvement is very rare in patients with Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP). In this case study, we present an 8-year-old girl presenting with HSP-induced myocarditis and thrombus in the right atrium and HSP nephritis. To date, 15 cases of HSP-related cardiac involvement have been reported in the PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and Google Scholar databases. These cases, together with our case, are included in this review. We excluded those patients with other rheumatologic diseases (acute rheumatic fever, acute post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis, Kawasaki disease) accompanied by HSP. Three were children and 13 were adults and all were male except our case. This review revealed tachyarrhythmia, chest pain, dyspnea, murmur, and heart failure as the major signs. Cardiac tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), and imaging methods (echocardiography in all patients, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in three, cardiac biopsy in one, and post-mortem necropsy in three) showed that the cardiac involvements were pericardial effusion, intra-atrial thrombus, myocarditis, coronary artery changes, myocardial ischemia, infarction and necrosis, subendocardial hemorrhage, and left ventricular dilatation. Kidney involvement was not observed in three patients. As the treatment, high-dose prednisolone and cyclophosphamide, oral corticosteroid, azathioprine, nadroparin calcium, ACE inhibitors, calcium antagonists, beta-blockers, and diuretics were used. Eleven patients (all three children and eight of the adults) had a complete cardiac recovery. Cardiac involvement in adults was more likely to be fatal. Death (three patients), ischemia, and infarct have been reported only in adults. We suggested that early and aggressive treatment can be life-saving. MRI examination is effective at identifying cardiac involvement.

A case of Takayasu arteritis complicated by right atrium perforation and injuries of the right common iliac artery and vein caused by cannulation for percutaneous cardiopulmonary support

We describe an autopsy case of Takayasu arteritis with right atrium perforation and injuries of the right common iliac artery and vein caused by cannulation for percutaneous cardiopulmonary support (PCPS). The decedent was an 8-year-old girl admitted for examination in respect to chest pain and syncope. During catheter angiography, she suddenly went into cardiac arrest. PCPS was attempted, whereupon bleeding into the abdominal cavity and an injury to the common iliac vein were observed. She was pronounced dead 78 hours after the initiation of PCPS. Autopsy revealed thickening of the aortic wall from the ascending aorta to the abdominal aorta, with narrowing of the proximal branches. Hemopericardium induced by right atrium perforation, and an injury of the right common iliac artery, were also found. Microscopic examinations of the aorta disclosed thickening of each layer of the vessel wall and inflammatory cell infiltration, mainly into the outer layer of the media. It was speculated that manipulation of the catheter and the underlying Takayasu arteritis caused cardiac arrest. It is also considered that hypovolemia was induced by the injuries of the right common iliac artery and vein caused during the insertion of the PCPS venous cannula. In addition, the right atrium was injured by the edge of the PCPS cannula, leading to hemopericardium. In pediatric cases involving PCPS, or in cases where cannulation is difficult, regular examination of the pericardial and abdominal cavities by echocardiography would provide useful information to prevent such accidents.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura: a long-term prospective study in Greek children

OBJECTIVE

Henoch-Schönlein purpura is a common vasculitis of childhood. The present study, comprising 74 children enrolled during a 9-year period, aimed to delineate the clinical spectrum and the long term follow-up of the disease.

METHODS

Patients were diagnosed strictly on the criteria established by the American College of Rheumatology. The diagnosis was further strengthened by a skin biopsy performed in more than half of cases (42/74), which revealed leukocytoclastic vasculitis in all patients, whereas IgA deposits were found in 37/42 children.

RESULTS

There was a predominance of boys (41 males), and the mean age of study population was 5.2 +/- 2.54 years. Palpable purpura was identified in 73/74 children, whereas transient arthritis manifested in 68/74 children. Gastrointestinal blood loss was elicited in 30 children, 11 of whom had also renal involvement. The latter was seen in 19/74 (25.7%) children, and in the long term follow-up (extended to 2004, from 4-12 years, mean duration 7.3 years), 2 children remained with persistent occult hematuria. Relapses occurred in 49 children (66%), and half of them experienced more than 1 recurrence. Arthritis was less common in the relapsed episodes, and this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.001). Relapses tended to be more common in children with renal involvement and colicky abdominal pain without however reaching statistical significance.

CONCLUSION

Despite common relapses, this disease is benign in the long term even if severe renal involvement can occur during its active period. Recurrences often differ to some extent from the initial episode with arthritis being less common with relapses.

Leukocytoclastic vasculitis with severe cardiac involvement in an infant: a case report

Severe visceral involvement in leukocytoclastic vasculitis is rare. We report here the case of a 2-month-old male infant with leukocytoclastic vasculitis who initially presented with fever and skin purpura. Endomyocarditis with mitral valve regurgitation, multiple hepatic infarction, and pulmonary hemorrhage developed later. The patient was successfully managed with an aggressive treatment of high frequency oscillation ventilation and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation together with corticosteroid and azathioprine therapy for 3 months. Valvuloplasty was also performed due to irreversible damage of the mitral valve, although long-term oral anticongestive medications were also needed.

[Henoch-Schönlein purpura. Study of factors associated with the development and course of the disease]

INTRODUCTION

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common form of pediatric vasculitis. The objective of this study was to determine the factors associated with the development and course of this disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A case-control study was performed. The case group included patients with HSP followed-up at the pediatric rheumatology and nephrology units of a tertiary university hospital over a 2-year period. The control group included children followed-up at the pediatric rheumatology unit for mechanical or non-inflammatory conditions. A medical history including data on infectious conditions and previous medication was taken. A throat culture was performed and antistreptolysin 0 levels were quantified. The seroprevalence of different viruses was investigated. Subsequently, the patients were prospectively followed-up and disease manifestations were compared with reported epidemiological factors.

RESULTS

Seventy patients and 58 controls were studied. A history of a recent upper respiratory infection (URI) and antibiotic intake were independently associated with development of HSP. Palpable purpura was present in 100 % of the patients. Gastrointestinal manifestations were recorded in 63 %, articular in 50 %, and renal in 18.6 %. Arthralgias were more frequent in girls and purpura duration was longer when disease onset occurred in spring or summer. Other factors studied were not associated with disease development or with a worse clinical course.

CONCLUSIONS

Factors associated with the development of HSP were a history of URI and antibiotic administration. Other epidemiological factors studied were not associated with either the development or the course of the disease.

Vasculitis in children

Vasculitis is rare in children, and, apart from HSP and perhaps KD, most practicing pediatricians will never encounter a case. Nonetheless, progress in the diagnosis and treatment of these conditions has afforded most children with vasculitis a reasonably good prognosis. Accordingly, it is important to consider vasculitis as a potential cause of unexplained inflammation, perplexing rashes, or strange combinations of symptoms. Although evaluation and management of suspected vasculitis are difficult in the best of situations, they are impossible if the diagnosis is not considered.

Pharmacological therapy for Wegener's granulomatosis

Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) is the most common pulmonary granulomatous vasculitis and was a uniformly fatal disease prior to the identification of efficacious pharmacological regimens. The pathogenesis of WG remains elusive but proteinase 3-specific anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies may be involved. Histologically, WG is defined by the triad of small vessel necrotising vasculitis, 'geographic' necrosis and granulomatous inflammation. Organ involvement characteristically includes the upper and lower respiratory tracts and kidney, but virtually any organ can be involved. The severity of the disease varies, ranging from asymptomatic disease to fulminant, fatal vasculitis. Similarly, the degree of organ involvement is highly variable; WG may be limited to a single organ (typically the lungs or upper respiratory tract), or may be systemic. Currently, a regimen consisting of daily cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids, which induces complete remission in the majority of patients, is considered standard therapy. Since approximately 50% of patients experience a relapse following discontinuation of therapy, alternative regimens designed to maintain remissions after using cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids are usually necessary. This 'induction maintenance' approach to treatment has emerged as a central premise in planning therapy for patients with WG.A number of trials have evaluated the efficacy of less toxic immunosuppressants (e.g. methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate mofetil) and antibacterials (i.e. cotrimoxazole [trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole]) for treating patients with WG, resulting in the identification of effective alternative regimens to induce or maintain remissions in certain sub-populations of patients. Given the efficacy of methotrexate (for early systemic WG) and cotrimoxazole (in WG limited solely to the upper airways) to induce remissions, and the relatively decreased associated morbidity compared with cyclophosphamide, these alternative regimens are preferred in appropriate patients. Similarly, therapeutic options to maintain disease remission that are less toxic than cyclophosphamide should be offered following induction of remission unless a specific contraindication exists. By following this premise, the development of cyclophosphamide-induced morbidities (e.g. haemorrhagic cystitis, uroepithelial cancers and prolonged myelosuppression) may be minimised. Recent investigation has focussed on other immunomodulatory agents (tumour necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors [infliximab and etanercept] and anti-CD20 antibodies [rituximab]) for treating patients with WG. However, the current data are conflicting and difficult to interpret. As a result, these newer agents cannot be recommended for routine use until vigorous clinical study confirms their efficacy.

An unusual presentation of classic polyarteritis nodosa in a child

Classic polyarteritis nodosa (c-PAN) is a rare disease in adults and extremely rare in children. We report a 3-year-old girl with c-PAN who presented with disturbances of consciousness and hypertension. Cranial tomography showed a subarachnoid hemorrhage. Subsequent magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic resonance angiography demonstrated subarachnoid hemorrhage and acute ischemic lesions. Renal angiography revealed bilateral multiple aneurysms. Due to her constitutional symptoms and hypertension and radiological findings she was diagnosed as having c-PAN. She was successfully treated with hydralazine followed by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, calcium channel blocker, intravenous pulse methylprednisolone, and subsequently oral prednisolone and oral cyclophosphamide. To our knowledge this is the youngest patient with c-PAN presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Malign hypertension at this young age deserves a meticulous investigation of the vascular origin. Furthermore, treatment with pulse methyl prednisolone followed by oral prednisolone and oral cyclophosphamide is a successful modality of treatment in such a life-threatening presentation of c-PAN in childhood.

Vasculitis in children

This article provides a general overview of vasculitis, situations in which the diagnosis should be considered, diagnostic methods, and therapeutic considerations. Details and treatments unique to specific vasculitides are also reviewed.

The elevated markers of hypercoagulability in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura

Twenty-eight children with HSP and 79 healthy children were entered into study. Activities of protein C, free-protein S and antithrombin, activated protein C resistance, levels of fibrinogen. D-dimer, thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT), prothrombin fragments 1 + 2 (PF(1+2)), and von Willebrand factor antigen (vWAg) and its activity (RiCof) were investigated in acute and recovery phases of HSP and controls. Fibrinogen, D-dimer, TAT, PF(1+2), vWAg, and RiCof levels in patients with HSP during the acute phase were significantly higher than those of recovery phase and of the controls. A significant correlation was detected between severity of disease and TAT, PF(1+2), vWAg, and D-dimer levels.

Case of Henoch-Schoenlein Purpura with Rare Complications: Necrosis of the Small Intestine, Neurological Symptoms, and Pericardial Tamponade

A case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) with necrosis of the small intestine, neurological symptoms, and pericardial tamponade after frequent recurrence is described. Neurological symptoms were controlled well with steroid pulse therapy, and pericardial tamponade was treated successfully with pericardiocentesis and steroid pulse therapy. To treat necrosis of the small intestine, the necrotic tissue was excised and artificial anuses were constructed. Five months later, the small intestine was anastomosed in a curative operation. Periodic administration of coagulation factor XIII was required from the onset of symptoms until curative surgery, but the activity of this factor returned to normal levels after surgery operation. We report a case of Henoch-Schönlein purpura with extremely rare complications: necrosis of the small intestine, neurological symptoms, and pericardial tamponade.