Clinical features of juvenile lupus erythematosus in Iranian children.

OBJECTIVE

Analysis of the clinical and laboratory features of childhood onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE).

PATIENTS AND METHOD

Forty five children, aged below 16, were enrolled in this retrospective multicenter study. All patients fulfilled the American College of Rheumatology revised criteria 1982 for the diagnosis of SLE and had shown clinical manifestations of the disease before the age of 16.

RESULTS

The female to male ratio was 8:1. The mean age at onset was 10.5 (ranged between 3 and 16 years). Thirty patients (66%) were correctly diagnosed before referring to our Center. The clinical manifestation in different organs were as follows: 40 patients (88.8%) had skin involvement, 35 patients (77.7%) experienced musculoskeletal involvement, 29 children (64.4%) suffered from renal disease, hematological abnormalities were detected in 25 patients (55.5%), 12 patients (26%) had cardiovascular disease, 10 patients (17%) presented central nervous system involvement, and 5 patients (11%) experienced SLE-related pulmonary disease. During the follow up period, four patients died, two from renal failure, one from CNS complications of JSLE, and one due to severe sepsis.

CONCLUSION

Clinical manifestations of Juvenile SLE are diverse and often severe. Similar studies should be undertaken in different geographic areas in order to provide a good insight of the disease towards a correct diagnosis of JSLE.