[Comparative study of systemic lupus erythematosus in children and adults].
OBJECTIVE
To discuss the differences in the clinical features, laboratory tests and renal pathology between children and adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).


METHODS
A retrospective study was performed in 198 children and 200 adults with SLE.


RESULTS
Fever, rash, arthritis, anemia and renal involvement were the most common symptoms in both groups. The incidence of hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, lymphadenectasis, anemia, renal involvement, nervous system involvement and digestive apparatus involvement were higher in children with SLE. The mean SLE Disease Activity Index score was also higher in the children. Immunological findings showed that a greater proportion of children with SLE were positive for anti-double stranded DNA antibody, anticardiolipin antibody and perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody. Renal pathological examinations showed that children with SLE patients were more likely to have serious renal involvement. The misdiagnosis rate was higher in children with SLE patients. During the hospital stay, 12 (6.1%) children with SLE died, with an average disease course of 6.8 months; 9 (4.5%) adults with SLE died with an average disease course of 4.2 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with SLE patients are liable to have systemic involvement and higher misdiagnosis rate, often with poorer prognosis than the adult patients.
Zhan
Zhong-Ping
ZP
Department of Rheumatology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China. zhanchuyue@163.com
Liang
Liu-Qin
LQ
Chen
Dong-Ying
DY
Ye
Yu-Jin
YJ
Xu
Han-Shi
HS
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D001323:Autoantibodies