[Thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic anemia in children with generalized lupus erythematosus].

We studied 30 children with systemic lupus erythematosus in order to detect the clinical, pathological and serological findings associated with the development of thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic anemia. A group of 13 of the 30 children revealed hematological manifestations as the most prominent changes of SLE. Thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic anemia were the beginning manifestation of SLE in 11 children. Different causes, for these hematological changes such as hypersplenism, renal microangiopathy or drugs reactions were excluded by history and examination. Interestingly, other immunohematological manifestations including splenomegaly and lymphadenopathy were more frequent in children with thrombocytopenic purpura and hemolytic anemia, than in those patients without these hematological complications. Positive antiplatelet antibodies were found in 4/6 children with thrombocytopenia and 2/5 with hemolytic anemia. A relation of antiplatelet with anticardiolipin antibodies occurred in 4 patients; 3 of them in children with thrombocytopenic purpura and one with hemolytic anemia. Anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm antibodies were positive in almost all patients. Four children shown a transition from anti-dsDNA to anti-Sm antibodies or viceversa and all of them revealed a significant variation in the titer of these antibodies by ELISA, in relation with disease activity. The presence of hematological manifestations associated with anti-platelet and anti-cardiolipin antibodies in children with SLE support that different mechanisms triggers autoimmunity in childhood.