title: Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: an update.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This is an update of the main studies published in the last year regarding biomarkers, advances in pathophysiology, lupus nephritis as well as outcomes and therapies in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some progress in the pathophysiology of cSLE was made in the past year. Although biomarkers were studied in lupus nephritis and neuropsychiatric lupus, none of the proposed biomarkers was shown to be a significant improvement over current disease measures. More encouraging was the research into creating an easy, rapid screening tool for neurocognitive dysfunction in cSLE. Two studies in health-related quality of life (HRQL) recognized its importance in determining outcome and found that ethnicity and obesity might significantly alter HRQL in cSLE patients. There were no prospective clinical trials involving cSLE patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A better understanding of pathophysiology may elucidate novel molecules as therapeutic targets in cSLE. Advances in the field of biomarkers may enable a more accurate prediction of clinical outcome, optimizing early interventions and therefore improving disease prognostics.
authors.affiliation: Division of Rheumatology, Hospital for Sick Children, Hospital for Sick Children Research Institute, Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Roberto Ezequiel
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Borgia
authors.forename: Earl D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Silverman
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D011788:Quality of Life
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers