A case series on recurrent and persisting IgA vasculitis (Henoch Schonlein purpura) in children

BACKGROUND

IgA vasculitis (IgAV) is a small vessel vasculitis that is more common in childhood. Very limited evidence exists on patients who experience an atypical disease course. The aim of this study was to describe a cohort of children diagnosed with recurrent or persisting IgAV to identify any themes associated with their disease course and areas of unmet needs.

METHODS

A single centre retrospective study of children diagnosed with recurrent or persisting IgAV at Alder Hey Children's Hospital (Liverpool, UK). Clinical data, including features at presentation and during follow up, potential triggers, abnormal laboratory and histology results, treatment and outcome at last clinical review were retrospectively collected. Key themes were identified.

RESULTS

A total of 13 children met the inclusion criteria (recurrent disease, n = 4; persisting disease, n = 9). Median age at first presentation was 10.2 years [2.6-15.5], female:male ratio 1.2:1. Children in the atypical cohort were significantly older than a larger cohort of children who followed a non-complicated disease course (median age 5.5 years (range [0.6-16.7], p = 0.003)). All children re-presented with a purpuric rash (either recurring or persisting), accompanied by joint involvement in 92% of patients (12/13). Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were used in 8/13 (62%) children. The median time from first presentation to diagnosis of atypical disease was 18.4 months [5.3-150.8] and the time from first presentation to treatment was 24.1 months [1.8-95.4]. Use of corticosteroids was significantly higher in children with renal involvement (p = 0.026). During follow up, 8/13 (62%) children were admitted at least once, whilst 10/13 (77%) had re-presented at least once to the emergency department. Five (38%) children were referred to psychology services and 7 (54%) children reported feelings of frustration.

CONCLUSIONS

This series describes some characteristics of a small cohort of children with atypical IgAV. It also identifies unmet needs in children with atypical IgAV, which includes delays in diagnosis and lengthy waits for treatment, lack of high-quality evidence regarding treatment choices and a high unrecognised disease burden. Further research is needed to study this subgroup of children as evidence is lacking.

Consequences of persistent depression and apathy in first-episode psychosis - A one-year follow-up study

BACKGROUND

Apathy and depression are prevalent in first-episode psychosis (FEP), have overlapping clinical features and are linked to social dysfunction, with indications that persisting symptoms have an even more negative impact. Our objective was to investigate the prevalence of persisting depression (PD), persisting apathy (PA), to what extent they overlap and their relative associations to functioning during a one-year follow-up.

METHODS

One hundred and twenty-five participants with a FEP were recruited, and 88 (70%) were reassessed at follow-up. Functional outcome was assessed with the Global Assessment of Functioning Scale-split version, functioning sub-scale, apathy with the Apathy Evaluation Scale, Clinician version (AES-C), and depression with the Calgary Depression Scale for Schizophrenia (CDSS). Persisting depression was defined as a CDSS sum-score > 7 at baseline and follow-up, and persisting apathy as an AES-C sum-score ≥ 27 at baseline and follow-up. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to investigate symptoms' contributions to functioning. Differences in functioning between groups were explored with Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney U test.

RESULTS

We found PD in 17 (19%) and PA in 28 (32%) of participants. The likelihood of PD was increased if PA was also present (p = 0.008, phi = 0.28). Ten participants (11%) experienced overlapping PD and PA. Participants with PD (r = -0.38, p = 0.004), PA (r = -0.51, p < 0.000) or both (r = -0.52, p < 0.000) had poorer functioning at follow-up than participants without persisting symptoms.

CONCLUSION

PD, PA and overlapping PD/PA is highly prevalent and associated with severely impaired functioning in FEP. Correct identification of these patients is a prerequisite for initiating relevant treatment early in the course of illness.