Successful treatment of progresive Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis with tonsillectomy and steroid pulse therapy

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a systemic disorder characterized by a leukocytoclastic vasculitis involving small vessels with the deposition of IgA immune complexes. The renal involvement is the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with HSP. We report here an adult patient with HSP nephritis (HSPN) accompanied by persistent proteinuria and progressive renal dysfunction despite conventional therapy. The patient was successfully treated with tonsillectomy followed by intravenous pulse methylprednisolone and oral prednisone. The combination therapy resulted in a significant decrease in proteinuria, improvement of renal function and the disappearance of microhematuria. The patient finally reached a stage of clinical remission.