Clinical and immunological profile of systemic lupus erythematosus in a pediatric population in North India

• Main Authors: Yadav Vijay, Bhardwaj Parveen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: SpringerOpen 2014-01-01
• Series: Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation
• Subjects: autoantibodies, children, malar rash, systemic lupus erythematosus, vasculities
• Online Access: http://www.err.eg.net/article.asp?issn=1110-161X;year=2014;volume=41;issue=4;spage=148;epage=151;aulast=Vijay
• ISSN: 1110-161X; 2090-3235

Context Systemic lupus erythematosus is usually missed in the pediatric population because of lower awareness among pediatricians. Aims The aim of this work was to study the clinical and immunological profile of lupus in children. Settings and design This study was carried out at a tertiary teaching institute of North India; this was a retrospective hospital-based study. Participants and methods Case records of 16 children of systemic lupus erythematosus in the age group 5-15 years were reviewed from hospital records. Statistical analysis used Means, proportions, and percentages were calculated using Epi Info 7. Results The mean age of children at the time of diagnosis was 12.1 years, with a female to male ratio of 5: 1. Fever (81.2%), rash (68.7%), arthritis (56.2%), and photosensitivity (56.2%) were the common clinical manifestations. Anemia was observed in 56.2%, whereas thrombocytopenia was noted in 31.2%. The kidney was the second most common system to be involved, with involvement in 43.7% of cases. Central nervous system involvement was observed in 31.2% of cases. Cardiac involvement was noted in 18% of cases. Antinuclear antibody was positive in all children. Three children died; two died of severe sepsis and one because of cardiogenic shock. Conclusion Systemic lupus should be considered a possible cause in adolescents presenting with multisystem involvement.