title: Functional asplenia in childhood onset systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: Fatal pneumococcal sepsis due to functional asplenia in a child with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and transient hyposplenism in a 2nd child during an acute flare of SLE are described. Splenic ultrasound examinations and radionuclide spleen scans in 11 other children with SLE were normal. Splenic atrophy and dysfunction is an uncommon but potentially fatal complication of SLE in childhood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Malleson
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Petty
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nadel
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Dimmick
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001284:Atrophy; D002648:Child; D004908:Erythrocyte Inclusions / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; D010833:Phytic Acid; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D013154:Spleen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013667:Technetium; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D009942:Organometallic Compounds; D015609:Organotechnetium Compounds; C026177:technetium phytate; D013667:Technetium; D010833:Phytic Acid