Systemic%20lupus%20erythematosus%20(pediatric) Signs and Symptoms
Definition
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multisystem, inflammatory, autoimmune disorder characterized by formation of autoantibodies directed against self-antigens and immune-complex formation
- SLE can be diagnosed with a single organ involvement such as lupus nephritis
- Childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) has an estimated worldwide incidence of 0.3-2.2 per 100,000 children-years with prevalence ranging from 3.3-9.7 per 100,000 children and adolescents
- Occurrence is rare before 5 years of age
- Females are more often affected than males
- Clinical presentation varies in different patients and the disease activity varies over time in a single patient
- Most frequent manifestations in children include fever, rash, weight loss, arthritis and renal involvement
- Compared with adults, cSLE has a higher incidence of fever, lymphadenopathy, ocular symptoms, hematologic abnormalities (eg anemia, leukopenia), neurologic (seizures) and renal involvement (lupus nephritis)
- cSLE has a greater disease severity and earlier disease damage than in adults with SLE
Signs and Symptoms
Clinical Features of SLE
- Cardiac
- Endocarditis
- Myocarditis
- Pericarditis
- Constitutional
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Dermatological
- Alopecia
- Malar and/or discoid rash
- Mucous membrane lesion
- Photosensitivity
- Purpura
- Raynaud’s phenomenon
- Urticaria
- Vasculitis
- Gastrointestinal
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea, vomiting (N/V)
- Hematologic
- Anemia
- Leukopenia
- Lymphopenia
- Thrombocytopenia
- Thromboembolic
- Deep vein thrombosis
- Cerebral sinus venous thrombosis
- Pulmonary embolus
- Arterial stroke
- Musculoskeletal
- Arthralgia
- Arthritis
- Myositis
- Neuropsychiatric
- Headache
- Cognitive impairment
- Mood or anxiety disorders
- Psychosis
- Seizures
- Cerebrovascular disease
- Pulmonary
- Pleurisy
- Pulmonary hypertension
- Pneumonitis
- Renal
- Casts
- Hematuria
- Nephrotic syndrome
- Proteinuria
- Reticuloendothelial
- Hepatomegaly
- Lymphadenopathy
- Splenomegaly