Abstract
This study investigated the clinicopathological characteristics of Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in Chinese adult patients and analyzed the renal outcomes and prognostic risk factors for progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Adult patients who had biopsy-proven HSPN were studied. Their clinicopathological data, renal prognoses and related risk factors were assessed. A total of 698 patients were studied, including 363 men (52.0%) and 335 women (48.0%). Most of the patients had hematuria (85.8%) and/or proteinuria (82.1%). During a median follow-up of 54.0 months, 32 patients (4.6%) progressed to ESRD. The 5- and 10-year cumulative renal survival rates from ESRD were 96.4% and 88.6%, respectively. Baseline urinary protein, renal insufficiency, glomerular sclerosis and tubular atrophy/interstitial fibrosis were independent predictors of renal outcomes. Both the time-average mean arterial pressure and proteinuria during follow-up also influenced the renal prognosis. The patients with a time-average proteinuria <0.4 g/day had the lowest rates of ESRD or a 50% decline in renal function. In conclusion, identifying of clinical and histological prognostic factors may permit the prediction of renal outcomes. The optimal goal of therapy for HSPN patients may be to lower proteinuria to <0.4 g/day and control hypertension to achieve an ideal renal outcome.