Role of Serum Fatty Acids in Children with Henoch-Schönlein purpura by GC-MS analysis

BACKGROUND: The objectives of this work were to discover the changes of serum Medium- and Long-Chain fatty acids levels and its possible relationship with Henoch-Schönlein Purpura (HSP), also referred to as Immunoglobulin A vasculitis in children. METHODS: A total of 58 children with HSP and 28 healthy children were recruited for this study. Serum fatty acids were analyzed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). RESULTS: 31 species of Fatty acids were discovered to have a significant difference between HSP group and healthy control group (CON group). The contents of all detected 37 fatty acids in the HSP group were higher than the healthy group. Parts of fatty acids were found in our study having significant change according to the treatment. Palmitate (C16:0) and 18 carbon atoms (C18) of fatty acids were abundant in all three groups of HSP. Elaidate (C18:1T), cis-11,14,17-Eicosatrienoic acid ester (C20:1) and cis-15-tetracosenoate (C24:1) were found to have a correlation on renal damage of HSP. CONCLUSION: Our study provides clinical evidence to support that fatty acid metabolism is associated with HSP by GC-MS method. Glucocorticoid therapy has a certain relationship with fatty acid metabolism during HSP treatment. Meanwhile, long-chain MUFAs may have an impact on renal damage of HSP. In addition, we speculate that a low BMI may be a kind of manifestation of abnormal fatty acid metabolism in HSP. All in all, further study is needed to explore the specific mechanism of fatty acids and HSP.