Risk factors for intussusception in children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura: A case-control study

BACKGROUND: The etiology of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) with intussusception remains undefined. AIM: To investigate the risk factors for intussusception in children with HSP and gastrointestinal (GI) involvement. METHODS: Sixty children with HSP and concomitant intussusception admitted to the Beijing Children’s Hospital of Capital Medical University between January 2006 and December 2018 were enrolled in this study. One hundred pediatric patients with HSP and GI involvement but without intussusception, admitted to the same hospital during the same period, were randomly selected as a control group. The baseline clinical characteristics of all patients, including sex, age of onset, duration of disease, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, and treatments provided, were assessed. Univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to identify possible risk factors. RESULTS: The 60 children in the intussusception group comprised 27 girls (45%) and 33 boys (55%) and the 100 children in the non-intussusception group comprised 62 girls (62%) and 38 boys (38%). The median age of all patients were 6 years and 5 mo. Univariate and multiple regression analyses revealed age at onset, not receiving glucocorticoid therapy within 72 h of emergence of GI symptoms, hematochezia, and D-dimer levels as independent risk factors for intussusception in children with HSP (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The four independent risk factors for intussusception in pediatric HSP with GI involvement would be a reference for early prevention and treatment of this potentially fatal disease.