Clinical presentation of systemic lupus erythematous in Iraqi children and adolescents

Abstract AR

Objectives : To study the clinical presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus in children up to the age of 16 in our region and to compare it with reports on children and adults from other parts of the world.

Methods : The records of 68 patients who were admitted to 2 large hospitals in Saddam Medical City, Baghdad with a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus were analyzed retrospectively.

Results : 51 (75%) were female and 17 (25%) were male.

The mean age of onset was 13.4 years.

Eight patients were 10 years old or younger.

The disease pattern in those under the age of 10, apart from the higher incidence of fever, hepatomegaly, and lymphadenopathy, was very similar to that in the older group Discussion : The results were compared with similar studies from other parts of the world and with studies of the disease in adults.

Conclusion: Our patients were found to have a lower incidence of arthritis and mucocutaneous manifestations and a higher incidence of cardiovascular manifestations than adults.