[Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis (HSPN) in children: comparison of the incidence and severity between two 12-year groups].

From 1971 to 1982, we treated 286 patients of HSP in Kitasato University Hospital. In these 286 patients, 137 developed purpura nephritis (47.9%). During the second 12-year period (from 1985 to 1996), we treated 34 HSPN patients among 189 HSP patients (18.0%). The clinico-pathological evaluations and comparisons in 30 cases from 1971 to 1982 and in 11 cases from 1985 to 1996 were performed, using the ISKDC grading. The numbers of patients of HSP and the incidence of HSPN both decreased in the more recent 12-year group. Furthermore, the severity of the renal histopathological findings decreased in the more recent group as well.