Increase of IgA-bearing peripheral blood lymphocytes in children with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura.

Aberration of IgA-bearing peripheral blood lymphocytes in children with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura has been investigated. Eighteen children with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura demonstrated a marked increase of IgA-bearing lymphocytes in peripheral blood during the acute phase of the disease. The levels of IgA-bearing lymphocytes returned to the normal levels after the acute symptoms of Henoch-Schoenlein purpura had subsided. However, in patients who developed purpura nephritis, the increased levels of IgA-bearing lymphocytes in peripheral blood were retained after the disappearance of purpura, and lasted for more than 12 months. It is concluded that the monitoring of IgA-bearing peripheral blood lymphocytes is useful for the screening of patients with Henoch-Schoenlein purpura and purpura nephritis.