Clinical and immunological profile of SLE: some unusual features.
OBJECTIVE
To study the clinical and immunological profile of children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
Retrospective hospital based study.


METHODS
Tertiary level center of North India.


METHODS
Sixteen children in the age group 4-12 years.


METHODS
Medical records of children with SLE were analyzed. Clinico pathological features were compared with 2 other series from India.


RESULTS
Mean age of children at the time of diagnosis was 10 yr and 8 (50%) children were less than 10 yr of age. The female to male ratio was 7:1. Fever (56.2%), rash (87%) and arthritis (87%) were the common clinical manifestations, Renal involvement was noted in 56.2% of cases. Other clinical features included hemolytic anemia (31.2%), thrombocytopenia (18.6%) and Raynaud's phenomenon (12.5%). Cardiac involvement in the form of severe myocarditis and endocarditis occurred in one patient each. Pulmonary hypertension was the presenting feature in one child with right heart failure. One child had multiple sclerosis along with SLE--a rare combination. ANA positivity was seen in all children. Five children died; two had severe cardiac involvement. Three children had renal involvement and one died of pulmonary hypertension. Two-thirds of subjects with renal involvement improved after therapy according to NIH, Bethesda protocol.


CONCLUSIONS
SLE must be considered in any child with multisystem disease, as the disease may have certain unusual presentations.
Singh
S
S
Department of Pediatrics, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh.
Kumar
L
L
Khetarpal
R
R
Aggarwal
P
P
Marwaha
R K
RK
Minz
R W
RW
Sehgal
S
S
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000150:complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies