OBJECTIVETo study the clinical effect of high-dose gamma globulin pulse therapy for abdominal Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP).

METHODSThirty-three children with abdominal HSP were randomly assigned to dexamethasone group (15 children) and gamma globulin group (18 children). The children in the dexamethasone group were treated with dexamethasone and conventional treatment, and those in the gamma globulin group were treated with high-dose gamma globulin pulse therapy in addition to the conventional treatment. Clinical outcome and recurrence rate were observed in both groups.

RESULTSCompared with the dexamethasone group, the gamma globulin group had a significantly shorter onset time of rash, a significantly shorter time to complete regression of rash, a significantly shorter time to abdominal pain remission, and a significantly shorter time to disappearance of bloody stool, as well as comparable time to vomiting remission and length of hospital stay. The gamma globulin group had a significantly higher response rate than the dexamethasone group (95% vs 65%; P<0.05) and a significantly lower recurrence rate within 6 months than the dexamethasone group (5.6% vs 33.3%; P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSHigh-dose gamma globulin pulse therapy has a marked clinical effect in the treatment of abdominal HSP. It is safe and reliable and has a low recurrence rate, and therefore, it holds promise for clinical application.