title: [Systemic lupus erythematosus in childhood: review of the literature and personal observations on 32 cases].
abstract: The main clinical features as well as the most important laboratory test in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are reviewed. The peculiar aspects both in clinical presentation and in natural history of this disease in childhood are stressed. Personal experience is reported: 32 cases, 8 males and 24 females, mean age of onset 10.9 + 2.1 yrs, are evaluated. The most frequent clinical symptoms at diagnosis were fever, skin involvement and joint involvement, while anemia, nephropathy and hepatosplenomegaly were frequently present at onset. ANA were detected in all the subjects, anti dsDNA in 84% of cases; in only one patient SS-A/SS-B assayed positive. C4 was decreased in 17/32 cases at onset, in the others during the course of disease. Three patients died, 2 for infections, 1 for a non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Two cases present a chronic renal failure (1 is dialyzed).
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Clinica Pediatrica, Università di Milano, Italia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bardare
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: De Vio
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Giani
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D000974:Antibodies, Antinuclear
vernacular_title: Il lupus eritematoso sistemico nell'infanzia: revisione della letteratura e osservazioni personali su 32 casi.