Serum IgE and IgA Levels in Pediatric Henoch– Schönlein Purpura: Clinical Characteristics and Immunological Correlations in the Context of Infectious Diseases–A Five-Year Retrospective Analysis

Immunoglobulin A vasculitis (IgAV), previously known as Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP), is a type of nonthrombocytopenic small-vessel vasculitis. HSP is the most common systemic vasculitis in pediatric patients, and it is characterized by purpura, arthritis or arthralgia, gastrointestinal pain, and renal dysfunction. This study examines the clinical features of children diagnosed with HSP and investigates the association between infectious diseases, elevated IgE serum levels, and the development of HSP. This retrospective analysis also examines a range of demographic factors, such as sex, geographic and environmental influences, age, and medication, to evaluate their potential effects on the pediatric population impacted by HSP. The five-year hospitalbased retrospective analysis included 138 hospitalized children diagnosed with HSP during hospitalization. Blood sample analysis was conducted to assess various immunological parameters, including levels of immunoglobulins (IgA and IgE), complement components (C3 and C4), C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and allergen panels. Elevated IgE levels and normal IgA serum concentrations were found to be strongly associated with infectious diseases in pediatric HSP patients. Patients with recurrent infectious diseases exhibited consistently elevated IgE levels and normal IgA levels during treatment, with no allergens identified, alongside an increased risk of disease recurrence.