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

Abstract EN

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.