Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: Update on clinical presentation, pathophysiology and treatment options

Phytosterols in human serum as measured using a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry

Phytosterols are lipophilic compounds found in plants with structural similarity to mammalian cholesterol. They cannot be endogenously produced by mammals and therefore always originate from diet. There has been increased interest in dietary phytosterols over the last few decades due to their association with a variety of beneficial health effects including low-density lipoprotein cholesterol lowering, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancerous effects. They are proposed as potential moderators for diseases associated with the central nervous system where cholesterol homeostasis is found to be imperative (multiple sclerosis, dementia, etc.) due to their ability to reach the brain. Here we utilised an enzyme-assisted derivatisation for sterol analysis (EADSA) in combination with a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MSn) to characterise phytosterol content in human serum. As little as 100 fg of plant sterol was injected on a reversed phase LC column. The method allows semi-quantitative measurements of phytosterols and their derivatives simultaneously with measurement of cholesterol metabolites. The identification of phytosterols in human serum was based on comparison of their LC retention times and MS2, MS3 spectra with a library of authentic standards. Free campesterol serum concentration was in the range from 0.30-4.10 µg/mL, β-sitosterol 0.16-3.37 µg/mL and fucosterol was at lowest concentration range from 0.05-0.38 µg/mL in ten individuals. This analytical methodology could be applied to the analysis of other biological fluids and tissues.

Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Update

Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is a potentially serious and life-threatening complication of SLE. The presentation and severity of neuropsychiatric involvement in SLE may show considerable variability. The disease can affect the neural tissue directly or may be associated with vascular involvement, mainly associated with anti-phospholipid (aPL) antibodies. A direct causal link with SLE may sometimes be challenging since there are many confounding factors and the symptoms may be non-specific. Despite its remarkable sensitivity in detecting hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, transverse myelitis and ischemic infarction, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lacks the spatial resolution required to identify microvascular involvement. When standard MRI fails to detect a suspicious lesion, it is advisable to use advanced imaging modalities such as positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) or quantitative MRI, if available. Even with these advanced modalities, the specificity of neuroimaging in NPSLE remains inadequate (60-82% for MRI). Neuropsychiatric syndromes, such as cerebrovascular events, seizures and cognitive impairments appear to be associated with serum aPL antibodies. Some studies have shown that anti-ribosomal P antibodies have a low sensitivity for NPSLE and a limited contribution to the differentiation of different clinical entities. Treatment has two main goals: symptomatic relief and treatment of the disease itself. Commonly used immunosuppressants for NPSLE include cyclophosphamide (CYC), azathioprine (AZA), and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF). According to EULAR's current recommendation, strong immunosuppressants such as CYC and rituximab (RTX) should be preferred. Biologics have also been used in NPSLE. Fingolimod, eculizumab, and JAK inhibitors are potential drugs in the pipeline. Developing targeted therapies will be possible by a better understanding of the pathological mechanisms.

Evaluation of belimumab in treatment of Chinese childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a prospective analysis from a multicentre study

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to identify whether low lupus disease activity status (LLDAS) and clinical remission (CR) of belimumab plus standard of care (SoC) therapy are achievable goals in childhood-onset SLE (cSLE).

METHODS

This multicentre, one arm pre-post intervention study was conducted at 15 centres in China. The primary end point was to describe the proportion of patients who achieved LLDAS and CR after 3, 6 and 12 months after treatment with belimumab plus SoC therapy. A multiple regression model was used to impute missing data. A Poisson regression model was used to calculate the effect of belimumab treatment on the reduced risk of serious diseases and the incidence of new damage.

RESULT

A total of 193 (92.2% female) with active cSLE from 15 centres were included. At 3, 6 and 12 months, the proportion of LLDAS (CR) was 12.4% (1.0%), 25.6% (4.5%) and 70.3% (29.7%), respectively. The mean SELENA-SLEDAI score decreased from 11.0 at baseline to 3.7, 2.9 and 1.7 at 3, 6 and 12 months. At baseline, all patients received steroids at a mean (s.d.) prednisone equivalent dose of 31.0 (18.2) mg/day, which decreased to 19.4 (10.8) mg/day at month 3, 12.6 (7.2) mg/day at month 6 and 6.7 (5.3) mg/day at month 12. The symptoms and immunological indicators were also significantly improved.

CONCLUSION

This is the first and largest sample size prospective clinical intervention study of cSLE patients treated with belimumab in China. LLDAS and CR were attainable treat-to-target of belimumab plus SoC therapy in cSLE.

Long noncoding RNAs (CTC-471J1.2, NeST) as epigenetic risk factors of active juvenile lupus nephritis: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Measurement of the circulating levels of long-non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in lupus nephritis (LN) patients could dramatically explore more insights about the disease pathogenesis. Hence, we aimed to quantify the level of expression of CTC-471J1.2 and NeST in LN patients and to correlate it with the disease activity.

METHOD

This case-control study was conducted on a group of children with juvenile LN attending to Mansoura University Children's Hospital (MUCH). Demographics, clinical, and laboratory findings were collected besides the measurement of lncRNAs by quantitative real-time PCR.

RESULTS

The expression level of lncRNAs-CTC-471J1.2 was significantly down-regulated in children with active LN versus inactive cases or controls. In contrast, the NeST was significantly up-regulated in active LN cases. A significant correlation was found between CTC-471J1.2 expression and LN activity parameters. Additionally, both lncRNAs showed a reasonable sensitivity and specificity in differentiation of active LN. A regression analysis model revealed that CTC-471J1.2 and NeST were independent predictors of active nephritis.

CONCLUSION

The expression level of circulatory lncRNAs-CTC-471J1.2 and NeST can be used as sensitive and specific biomarkers for active LN. Furthermore, both could serve as predictors for nephritis activity.

Effect of systemic lupus erythematosus on the ovarian reserve: A systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that occurs at higher rates in young women. Evidence suggests that SLE may be associated with ovarian dysfunction. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate the possible effects of SLE on ovarian reserve function.

METHODS

PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov databases were searched from inception to July 2023 to identify studies that compared ovarian reserve in patients with SLE to that of healthy individuals. The study examined anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), antral follicle count (AFC), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) as outcomes.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies (n=1017) were eligible for meta-analysis. Females with SLE had significantly lower levels of AMH (weighted mean difference [WMD]: -1.07, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -1.37 to -0.76, P<0.001) and AFC (WMD: -3.46, 95% CI: -4.57 to -2.34, P<0.001). There was no significant difference in FSH levels. Subgroup analyses by age of onset revealed that SLE patients with adult-onset had significantly lower AMH levels (WMD: -1.44, 95% CI: -1.71 to -1.18, P<0.001), lower AFCs (WMD: -3.11, 95% CI: -3.60 to -2.61, P<0.001) and higher FSH levels (WMD: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.15 to 1.05, P<0.01). However, SLE patients with juvenile-onset did not exhibit significant differences in their AMH and FSH levels, except for AFCs (WMD: -7.27, 95% CI: -12.39 to -2.14, P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

The impact of SLE on ovarian reserve is significant, and the effect may be particularly severe in cases of adult-onset SLE.

Reduced expressions of apoptosis-related proteins TRAIL, Bcl-2, and TNFR1 in NK cells of juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients: relations with disease activity, nephritis, and neuropsychiatric involvement

Background

Lupus pathogenesis is mainly ascribed to increased production and/or impaired clearance of dead cell debris. Although self-reactive T and B lymphocytes are critically linked to lupus development, neutrophils, monocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells have also been implicated. This study assessed apoptosis-related protein expressions in NK cells of patients with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) and relations to disease activity parameters, nephritis, and neuropsychiatric involvement.

Methods

Thirty-six patients with jSLE, 13 juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) inflammatory controls, and nine healthy controls had Fas, FasL, TRAIL, TNFR1, Bcl-2, Bax, Bim, and caspase-3 expressions in NK cells (CD3-CD16+CD56+) simultaneously determined by flow cytometry. Disease activity parameters included Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein level, anti-double strain DNA antibody level, complement fractions C3 and C4 levels.

Results

Patients with jSLE had a profile of significantly reduced expression of TRAIL, Bcl-2, and TNFR1 proteins in NK cells when compared to healthy controls. Similar profile was observed in patients with jSLE with active disease, positive anti-dsDNA, nephritis, and without neuropsychiatric involvement. Patients with jSLE with positive anti-dsDNA also had reduced expression of Bax in NK cells when compared healthy controls and to those with negative anti-dsDNA. Yet, patients with jSLE with negative anti-dsDNA had reduced mean fluorescence intensity (MFI) of Bim in NK cells compared to healthy controls. Patients with jSLE with nephritis also had reduced MFI of Fas in NK cells when compared to those without nephritis. In addition, in patients with jSLE, the proportion of FasL-expressing NK cells directly correlated with the SLEDAI-2K score (rs = 0.6, p = 0.002) and inversely correlated with the C3 levels (rs = -0.5, p = 0.007). Moreover, patients with jSLE had increased NK cell percentage and caspase-3 protein expression in NK cells when compared to JDM controls.

Conclusion

This study extends to NK cells an altered profile of TRAIL, Bcl-2, TNFR1, Fas, FasL, Bax, Bim, and caspase-3 proteins in patients with jSLE, particularly in those with active disease, positive anti-dsDNA, nephritis, and without neuropsychiatric involvement. This change in apoptosis-related protein expressions may contribute to the defective functions of NK cells and, consequently, to lupus development. The full clarification of the role of NK cells in jSLE pathogenesis may pave the way for new therapies like those of NK cell-based.

Lymphocyte apoptosis and its association with the inflammatory markers and disease severity in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients

BACKGROUND

The defective clearance of apoptotic bodies in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) potentially leads to the persistence of autoreactive lymphocytes and the perpetuation of the autoimmune response. These factors contribute to the disturbance in lymphocyte apoptosis and show potential as key determinants in the clinical course and severity of jSLE. This study evaluates the role of peripheral blood (PB) lymphocyte apoptosis in prognosis of jSLE and as a predictor for disease activity.

METHODS

The study involved 100 jSLE patients and 50 healthy controls. Flow cytometry was used to analyze percentages of lymphocyte apoptosis in PB of all study participants. Plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined using ELISA.

RESULTS

Our results showed that percentages of lymphocyte apoptosis in PB of jSLE patients are significantly higher than those of healthy controls. These percentages are significantly positively associated with disease activity of patients (SLEDAI-2 K). Furthermore, plasma cytokine levels (IL-17, IFN-γ and TNF-α) are significantly elevated in jSLE patients compared to their levels in healthy controls. Also, there are weak significant positive correlations between percentages of PB lymphocyte apoptosis and each of IL-17 and IFN-γ plasma levels in jSLE patients. Moreover, PB lymphocyte apoptosis percentages among jSLE patients are higher in the presence of some clinical and laboratory features than those in their absence.

CONCLUSION

Peripheral apoptotic lymphocytes could contribute to the prognosis of jSLE and could be used as a predictor for disease activity in jSLE patients.

Case report: Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease: unveiling a case of recurrent fever and enlarged cervical lymph nodes in a young female patient with a literature review of the immune mechanism

The inflammatory response to viral infection is an important component of the antiviral response, a process that involves the activation and proliferation of CD8+ T, CD4+ T, and dendritic cells; thus, viral infection disrupts the immune homeostasis of the organism, leading to an increased release of inflammatory factors. Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is an inflammatory self-limited disorder of unknown etiology, and it is generally believed that the pathogenesis of this disease includes two aspects: viral infection and autoimmune response. Various immune cells, such as CD8+ T lymphocytes, CD4+ T lymphocytes, and CD123+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells, as well as the cytokines they induce and secrete, such as interferons, interleukins, and tumor necrosis factors, play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of KFD. In this article, we present a case study of a young female patient from China who exhibited typical symptoms of lymph node inflammation and fever. The diagnosis of KFD was confirmed through a lymph node biopsy. She presented with elevated ESR, IL-6, and IFN-γ. Viral markers showed elevated IgG and IgM of cytomegalovirus (CMV) and elevated IgG of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), while changes occurred in the CD4+ T and CD8+ T cell counts. Eventually, the patient achieved disease relief through steroid treatment. Based on these findings, we conducted a comprehensive review of the involvement of viral infection-induced inflammatory response processes and autoimmunity in the pathogenesis of Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease.

Novel heterozygous TREX1 mutation in a juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus patient with severe cutaneous involvement treated successfully with Jak-inhibitors: a case report

Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) is a complex inflammatory autoimmune disorder. In the last decades, genetic factors and activation pathways have been increasingly studied to understand their potential pathogenetic role better. Genetic and transcriptional abnormalities directly involved in the type I interferon (IFN) signaling cascade have been identified through family-based and genome-wide association studies. IFNs trigger signaling pathways that initiate gene transcription of IFN-stimulated genes through the activation of JAK1, TYK2, STAT1, and STAT2. Thus, the use of therapies that target the IFN pathway would represent a formidable advance in SLE. It is well known that JAK inhibitors have real potential for the treatment of rheumatic diseases, but their efficacy in the treatment of SLE remains to be elucidated. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl affected by jSLE, carrying a novel heterozygous missense variant on Three prime Repair EXonuclease 1 (TREX1), successfully treated with baricitinib on top of mofetil mycophenolate. The TREX1 gene plays an important role in DNA damage repair, and its mutations have been associated with an overproduction of type 1 interferon. This report underlines the role of translational research in identifying potential pathogenetic pathways in rare diseases to optimize treatment.

Subclinical macular vessel density alterations in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

The aim is to evaluate subclinical alterations of macular microvasculature in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE).

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study of 29 eyes of 29 patients diagnosed with JSLE and 29 eyes of 29 healthy controls. The vessel density (VD) of the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), intermediate capillary plexus (ICP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), choriocapillaris (CC), and area of foveal avascular zone (FAZ) was measured using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA). A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of disease duration and activity on OCTA parameters.

RESULTS

The VD of total (p = .007) and the superior (p = .014) and inferior (p = .004) quadrants in SCP was significantly lower in children with JSLE. The VD of total and all quadrants in ICP decreased (p = .015, p = .0045, p = .015, p = .033), except that of the temporal quadrant (p = .366). The total (p = .011) and superior quadrant (p<.01) DCP-VD showed a significant decrease in children with JSLE. The decrease in VD in the total (p = .003) and nasal quadrant (p = .017) of CC was also remarkable. No significant difference in the FAZ area was found between the two groups (p = .774). Multiple linear regression analyses adjusted for age, spherical equivalent, and intraocular pressure were conducted. No contributing factor to OCTA parameters was found.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated decreased VD in all layers of the retina and CC in patients with JSLE without ocular involvement. Early screening and close follow-up were recommended.

cAMP responsive element modulator α promotes effector T cells in systemic autoimmune diseases

T lymphocytes play a crucial role in adaptive immunity. Dysregulation of T cell-derived inflammatory cytokine expression and loss of self-tolerance promote inflammation and tissue damage in several autoimmune/inflammatory diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and psoriasis. The transcription factor cAMP responsive element modulator α (CREMα) plays a key role in the regulation of T cell homeostasis. Increased expression of CREMα is a hallmark of the T cell-mediated inflammatory diseases SLE and psoriasis. Notably, CREMα regulates the expression of effector molecules through trans-regulation and/or the co-recruitment of epigenetic modifiers, including DNA methyltransferases (DNMT3a), histone-methyltransferases (G9a) and histone acetyltransferases (p300). Thus, CREMα may be used as a biomarker for disease activity and/or target for future targeted therapeutic interventions.

Association of soluble ST2 with disease activity in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study is to assess soluble ST2 (sST2) as a potential biomarker in pediatric systemic lupus erythematous patients (pSLEs), especially to reveal the association of the sST2 levels with the disease activity and other laboratory tests.

METHODS

A total of 65 pSLEs and 33 age- and sex- matched healthy controls (HCs) were enrolled in this study between July and December 2022 from Children's Hospital of Fudan University. Serum levels of sST2 were determined and clinical information and laboratory test results were collected.

RESULTS

Serum sST2 levels were significantly increased in pSLEs (36.7 ng/mL, IQR 16.6-76.9) compared with HCs (10.4 ng/mL, IQR 6.4-14.8). Patients with moderate to severe disease activities had significantly elevated levels of sST2 compared with those with inactive and mild disease activities. A positive correlation was found between sST2 levels and SLE Disease Activity Index-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) scores. The serum levels of sST2 also showed positive correlations with anti-dsDNA antibody, ALT, AST, GGT, blood urea, and negative correlations with C3, C4, CH50 and ALP. ROC analysis showed that sST2 could discriminate active disease (AUC: 0.959, 95 %CI 0.878-0.992) with an optimal cut-off of 30.2 ng/mL (sensitivity: 89.7 %, specificity: 100 %) and moderate/severe disease activities (AUC: 0.962, 95 %CI 0.883-0.994) with an optimal cut-off of 45.2 ng/mL (sensitivity: 91.7 %, specificity: 90.2 %). Decreased sST2 levels were observed after clinical treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Elevated serum sST2 level in pSLEs were observed and were highly associated with disease activity, suggesting sST2 might be a potential biomarker for pSLEs.

Remission and long-term remission of pediatric-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Objectives

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with diverse clinical presentations and prognoses. Remission can be achieved with or without glucocorticoid (GC) use, and several recent studies have suggested that long-term remission can be achieved in a small portion of patients. Nevertheless, few studies have investigated remission or long-term remission in the pediatric-onset SLE subgroup. This study analyzed the characteristics and factors associated with long-term remission and GC use in pediatric-onset SLE.

Methods

We enrolled 226 patients aged <18 years who received a diagnosis of SLE between January 2006 and December 2016. Three remission condition groups were defined: (A) complete remission, (B) clinical remission off GCs, and (C) clinical remission on GCs. Long-term remission was defined as remission for more than 5 years. We analyzed the treatment durations before remission, durations of remission, and risk factors for non-remission with persistent GC use.

Results

During follow-up, 8 patients (3.5%) achieved complete remission, 35 patients (15.5%) achieved clinical remission off GCs, and 93 patients (41.2%) achieved clinical remission on GCs. In groups A, B, and C, 12.5%, 68.6%, and 65.6% of patients, respectively, remained in remission for >1 year.

Conclusion

This study assessed remission of pediatric-onset SLE. Up to 60.2% of patients had clinical remission after treatment, and 19% of patients achieved remission off GCs. Long-term remission is rarer in pediatric-onset SLE than in adult-onset SLE.

Clinical characteristics of early-onset paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus in a single centre in China

OBJECTIVES

We sought to investigate the sex distribution, clinical presentations, disease outcomes and genetic background of early-onset paediatric SLE (eo-pSLE) in a single centre in China to help enable early diagnosis and timely treatment.

METHODS

The clinical data of children aged less than 5 years old with SLE (n = 19) from January 2012 to December 2021 were reviewed and analysed. We performed DNA sequencing in 11 out of 19 patients to survey the genetic aetiologies.

RESULTS

Our study included 6 males and 13 females. The mean age at onset was 3.73 years. The median diagnostic delay was 9 months and was longer in male patients (P = 0.02). Four patients had an SLE-relevant family history. The most common clinical manifestations at diagnosis were fever, rash and hepatosplenomegaly. ANA positivity and low C3 were identified in all children. The renal (94.74%), mucocutaneous (94.74%), haematological (89.47%), respiratory (89.47%), digestive (84.21%), cardiovascular (57.89%) and neuropsychiatric (52.63%) systems were involved to varying degrees. We identified 13 SLE-associated gene mutations in 9 out of 11 patients: TREX1, PIK3CD, LRBA, KRAS, STAT4, C3, ITGAM, CYBB, TLR5, RIPK1, BACH2, CFHR5 and SYK. One male patient showed a 47, XXY chromosomal abnormality.

CONCLUSION

Early-onset (<5 years) pSLE is characterized by an insidious onset, typical immunological patterns, and the involvement of multiple organs. Immunological screening and genetic testing should be performed as soon as feasible in patients with an early onset of multisystemic autoimmune diseases to confirm the diagnosis.

Utility of renal resistive index measurement in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional single-center study

INTRODUCTION

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic autoimmune disease with a complex etiopathogenesis. Renal involvement is the most common and devastating complication of the disease. Renal resistive index (RRI) was suggested as a noninvasive biomarker for lupus nephritis in previous studies. This is the first study to investigate the role of RRI measurement in juvenile SLE patients.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included 25 juvenile SLE patients and 25 healthy controls. Demographic and clinical features were recruited from the medical files of the patients. RRI measurements were performed with color Doppler ultrasonography from intrarenal arteries when Doppler angles were 30-60 in right and left kidneys.

RESULTS

Of 25 (19 female, 6 male) SLE patients, nineteen (76%) patients had urinary abnormalities during follow-up, and renal biopsy was performed in 14 patients, of which 9 (64.3%) had class 2 and 5 (35.7%) had class 4 lupus nephritis. RRI was found significantly higher in SLE group than healthy controls. RRI did not differ between SLE patients, grouped according to the presence of renal involvement and class IV lupus nephritis. RRI did not correlate with serum creatinine, GFR, spot urine protein/creatinine, and albumin/creatinine ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

Although RRI was found significantly higher in juvenile SLE, it is not affected by GFR, proteinuria level, or the renal biopsy results, even the presence of proliferative nephritis. The underlying pathogenetic mechanisms of increased RRI in SLE should be clarified in further studies. Key Points • Renal resistive index (RRI) is a parameter derived from renal Doppler ultrasound imaging and shows the intrarenal arterial resistance. • This study reveals that RRI is increased in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus. • RRI was previously related with renal involvement, particularly class 4 lupus nephritis in adults. However, RRI was not affected by the presence or degree of renal involvement in juvenile SLE patients in our study.

[Oral pathologies in pediatric patients related to juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and considerations in stomatological management. A review]

Introduction

Juvenile lupus erythematosus (jSLE) is a rheumatic disease that affects the functioning of internal organs and is multisystemic. It is a chronic condition and is usually associated with very significant morbidity, which is higher in children and adolescents than in adults.

Objectives

Describe and identify the most current concepts of jSLE, etiology, epidemiology of the disease, semiology, oral manifestations, as well as treatment, consequences and differences with systemic lupus erythematosus in adults (aSLE).

Materials and methods

A literature search was carried out in PubMed, Ebsco, SciELO, and ELSEVIER, using the key words, "Juvenile lupus erythematosus","dental caries", "oral manifestation", "children dentistry". Aimed at studies carried out in humans between 2010 to 2023 and the most relevant topics related to this disease were analyzed.

Results

The information that was collected corresponds to the last 13 years, with the purpose of making an update on the topic of study, 750 articles were reviewed which were analyzed with the inclusion and exclusion criteria but only 50 met these criteria articles.

Conclusion

Dental care in patients with SLEj is a challenge, since there are different considerations that we must take into account before carrying out any treatment, since they present alterations in the joints, salivary glands and failures of multiple organs. It is important to know the different differential diagnoses for unequivocal detection of the disease. In the presence of signs and symptoms based on the criteria of jSLE or early onset, a consultation with the immunology area is recommended to confirm or rule out this disease.

The differential panorama of clinical features of lupus erythematosus patients with different onset ages: a cross-sectional multicenter study from China

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to compare the differences among patients of different onset ages in various subtypes of lupus erythematosus (LE) and to draw a panorama of the clinical characteristics of patients with different onset ages.

METHOD

Subjects were recruited from the Lupus Erythematosus Multicenter Case-control Study in Chinese populations (LEMCSC), grouped by the age of onset (childhood-onset: onset < 18 years, adult-onset: onset 18-50 years, late-onset: onset > 50 years). The data collected included demographic characteristics, LE-related systemic involvement, LE-related mucocutaneous manifestations, and laboratory results. All included patients were assigned into three groups: systemic LE (SLE) group (with systemic involvement, with or without mucocutaneous lesions), cutaneous LE (CLE) group (patients who were accompanied by any type of LE-specific cutaneous manifestations), and isolated cutaneous LE (iCLE) group (patients who were in CLE group without systemic involvements). Data were analyzed using R version 4.0.3.

RESULTS

A total of 2097 patients were involved, including 1865 with SLE and 232 with iCLE. We also identified 1648 patients with CLE among them, as there was some overlap between the SLE population and CLE population (patients with SLE and LE-specific cutaneous manifestations). Later-onset lupus patients seemed to be less female predominance (p < 0.001) and have less systemic involvement (except arthritis), lower positive rates of autoimmune antibodies, less ACLE, and more DLE. Moreover, childhood-onset SLE patients presented a higher risk of LE family history (p = 0.002, vs adult-onset SLE). In contrast to other LE-nonspecific manifestations, the self-reported photosensitivity history decreased with the age of onset in SLE patients (51.8%, 43.4%, and 39.1%, respectively) but increased in iCLE patients (42.4%, 64.9%, and 89.2%, respectively). There was also a gradual increase in self-reported photosensitivity from SLE, CLE, to iCLE in both adult-onset and late-onset lupus patients.

CONCLUSIONS

A negative correlation was suggested between the age of onset and the likelihood of systemic involvement, except for arthritis. As the age of onset increases, patients have a greater propensity to exhibit DLE compared to ACLE. Moreover, the presence of rapid response photodermatitis (i.e., self-reported photosensitivity) was associated with a lower rate of systemic involvement.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (registration number: ChiCTR2100048939) on July 19, 2021, retrospectively registered. Key Points • We confirmed some phenomena that have been found in patients with SLE, such as the highest proportion of females of reproductive age, the higher risk of LE family history in childhood-onset SLE patients, and the less self-reported photosensitivity in the late-onset SLE group. We also compared the similarities and differences of these phenomena in patients with CLE or iCLE for the first time. • In patients with SLE, the proportion of females peaked in adult-onset patients, but this phenomenon disappeared in iCLE patients: the female-male ratio tends to decrease from childhood-onset iCLE, adult-onset iCLE, to late-onset iCLE. • Patients with early-onset lupus are more likely to have acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ACLE), and patients with late-onset lupus are more likely to have discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). • In contrast to other LE-nonspecific manifestations, the incidence of rapid response photodermatitis (i.e., self-reported photosensitivity) decreased with the age of onset in SLE patients but increased with the age of onset in iCLE patients.

Neuropsychiatric involvement in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare autoimmune/inflammatory disease with significant morbidity and mortality. Approximately 15-20% of SLE patients develop the disease during childhood or adolescence (juvenile-onset SLE/jSLE). Patients with jSLE exhibit more variable and severe disease when compared to patients with disease-onset during adulthood. Neuropsychiatric (NP) involvement is a clinically heterogenous and potentially severe complication. Published reports on the incidence and prevalence of NP-jSLE are scarce, and the exact pathophysiology is poorly understood.This manuscript provides a review of the existing literature, suggesting NP involvement in 13.5-51% of jSLE patients. Among patients with NP-jSLE affecting the CNS, we propose two main subgroups: (i) a chronic progressive, predominantly type 1 interferon-driven form that poorly responds to currently used treatments, and (ii) an acutely aggressive form that usually presents early during the disease that may be primarily mediated by auto-reactive effector lymphocytes. While this hypothesis requires to be tested in large collaborative international cohort studies, it may offer future patient stratification and individualised care.

IL12B and IL17 genes polymorphisms associated with differential susceptibility to juvenile idiopathic arthritis and juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus in Chinese children

Genetic factors play a crucial role in the immune response of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). This study aimed to investigate the association of IL12B (rs3212227, rs6887695) and IL17 (rs2275913, rs763780) gene polymorphisms with the susceptibility of JIA and JSLE in Chinese children. A total of 303 healthy controls and 304 patients including 160 JIA and 144 patients were analyzed, and the genetic polymorphisms were genotyped by using a Sequenom MassArray system. There was a significant association between the IL12B rs3212227 genotype and the increased risk of JSLE (P = .01). For rs6887695, the minor allele C was significantly associated with the increased risk of JIA (odds ratio = 1.48, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.12-1.95, P = .005). Moreover, rs6887695 genotype was significantly associated with both JIA and JSLE susceptibility (P < .05). Besides, IL12B haplotype GC significantly associated with the increased risk of JIA (P = .016). However, no significant difference was found between the IL17 (rs2275913, rs763780) gene polymorphisms and JIA or JSLE susceptibility (P > .05). And similar genotype distributions of IL12B and IL17 polymorphisms were found between the patients with nephritis and without nephritis in JSLE (P > .05). Our results indicated that IL12B polymorphisms was associated with an increased risk for the development of JIA and JSLE in Chinese children, highlighting the involvement of inflammation in the pathogenesis of JIA and JSLE. Moreover, there was a risk haplotype in IL12B which could increase the risk of JIA.

Treatment patterns in paediatric and adult patients with SLE: a retrospective claims database study in the USA

OBJECTIVE

To assess real-world treatment regimens and patterns in childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) and adult-onset SLE (aSLE) cohorts, including similarities in treatments, duration of use and adherence.

METHODS

This retrospective study utilised data from Merative L.P. MarketScan Research Databases (USA). Index date was the date of first SLE diagnosis (2010-2019). Patients aged <18 years (cSLE) and ≥18 years (aSLE) at index date with confirmed SLE diagnosis and ≥12 months continuous enrolment during pre-index and post-index periods were included. The cohorts were stratified based on the presence (existing) or absence (new) of pre-index SLE. Primary outcomes (post-index period) included treatment regimens (all patients), and adherence (proportion of days covered (PDC)) and discontinuation of therapies initiated within 90 days of diagnosis (new patients). Univariate comparisons between cSLE and aSLE cohorts were performed using Wilcoxon rank-sum and χ² (or Fisher's exact) tests.

RESULTS

cSLE cohort included 1275 patients (mean age=14.1 years) and aSLE cohort included 66 326 patients (mean age=49.7 years). Antimalarials and glucocorticoids were commonly used among new (cSLE=64.4%/62.0%; aSLE=51.8%/49.7%) and existing (cSLE=68.6%/58.9%; aSLE=63.8%/51.3%) patients in both cohorts. Median oral glucocorticoid dose (prednisone equivalent) was higher in cSLE vs aSLE (new=22.1 vs 14.0 mg/day; existing=14.4 vs 12.3 mg/day; p<0.05). Mycophenolate mofetil use was higher in patients with cSLE vs aSLE (new=26.2% vs 5.8%; existing=37.6% vs 11.0%; p<0.0001). Compared with aSLE, more patients used combination therapies in cSLE (p<0.0001). Median PDC was higher in cSLE vs aSLE for antimalarials (0.9 vs 0.8; p<0.0001) and oral glucocorticoids (0.6 vs 0.3; p<0.0001). Treatment discontinuation was lower in cSLE vs aSLE for antimalarials (25.0% vs 33.1%; p<0.0001) and oral glucocorticoids (56.6% vs 71.2%; p<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Management of cSLE and aSLE includes the same medication classes; differences include more intensive use of therapy in cSLE, warranting the need for approved safe medications for cSLE.

Experiences and Perspectives of Children and Young People Living with Childhood-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-An Integrative Review

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) impacts the daily life of children and young people. This study aimed to describe the experiences and perspectives of children and young people living with cSLE. An integrative review guided by Whittemore and Knafl was conducted. Extant empirical research published in peer-reviewed journals from 2000 to 2021 on children's self-reported experiences living with cSLE was identified from Scopus, CINAHL, Medline via PubMed, and PsycINFO via Ovid databases. Nineteen studies involving over 1400 participants were included. Four themes and fourteen sub-themes were identified: (1) challenging symptoms (disruptions to life and altered self, severity, fatigue, depression, and anxiety), (2) medicines and side effects (dreaded steroids, conflicting feelings, and medication adherence), (3) complicated life (school sports and social, giving things up, lack of understanding, and quality of life) and (4) ways of coping (family and friends, relationships with health providers, and maintaining positivity). While cSLE shares many similarities with adult-onset SLE, awareness of differences in experiences and perceptions of children and young people is crucial. The significant psychological and social impact of the disease and its treatments necessitates a comprehensive, holistic approach to managing cSLE that considers the unique needs of youth.

Severe Juvenile-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Series-Based Review and Update

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) is a multisystemic disease diagnosed in young patients based on the clinical criteria of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) and the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). The importance of this condition lies in its greater aggressiveness compared with lupus diagnosed during adulthood (aSLE). Management, which is based on supportive care and immunosuppressive drugs, aims to reduce the overall disease activity and to prevent exacerbation. Sometimes the onset is accompanied by life-threatening clinical conditions. In this paper, we introduce three recent cases of jSLE that required admission to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) of a Spanish pediatric hospital. This manuscript aims to review some of the main complications associated with jSLE, such as diffuse alveolar hemorrhage, cerebral vasculitis, or an antiphospholipid syndrome; these are life-threatening conditions but they have a chance of favorable prognosis if treated early and aggressively.

The role of hsa_circ_0008945 in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

circular RNAs (circRNAs) play a crucial role in many physiological and pathological processes including juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). The aim of this study is to investigate the role of circRNA hsa_circ_0008945 in JSLE and evaluate its significance as diagnosing biomarker.

METHODS

RT-qPCR was applied to detect the level of circ_0008945 in JSLE and controls. The Spearman correlation test assessed the correlation between circ_0008945 and clinical variables. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was calculated for evaluating the diagnostic value. Overexpression or knockdown of circ_0008945 in primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was performed to further examine its function in apoptosis.

RESULTS

RT-qPCR revealed that there were significantly higher levels of hsa_circ_0008945 in PMBCs from JSLE patients (p < 0.001) compared to healthy controls. In addition, there were significant associations between hsa_circ_0008945 level and the level of C3, C4, anti-ds DNA, IgG, CRP and ESR (p < 0.05) but not associated with the level of Ig A and Ig M. ROC curve of the circ_0008945 showed that the AUC was 0.790 and it may potentially be used as a novel biomarker for the diagnosis of JSLE. The results showed that overexpression of circ-0008945 increased the apoptosis of PBMCs while knockdown of circ-0008945 by siRNA decreased the apoptosis of PBMCs, supporting that circ-0008945 promoted the apoptosis in PBMCs and contributed to the pathogenesis of JSLE.

CONCLUSION

The role of circ_0008945 was first investigated in JSLE and proposed herein their possible contribution to the pathogenesis of JSLE. This study provides not only novel insight into the pathological mechanisms but also the potential value as a useful biomarker for JSLE.

Usefulness of the lupus low disease activity state as a treatment target in childhood-onset SLE

OBJECTIVE

Treat-to-target (T2T) strategies are advocated to improve prognosis in childhood-onset SLE (cSLE). Proposed T2T states include SLEDAI score of <4 (SLEDAI-LD), limited corticosteroid use (low-CS), and lupus low disease activity state (LLDAS). We sought to compare T2T states for their association with cSLE prognosis under consideration of relevant disease characteristics such as pre-existing damage, race and lupus nephritis (LN).

METHODS

Longitudinal data from 165 patients enrolled in the Cincinnati Lupus Registry were included. LN presence was based on renal biopsy, and patients were followed up until 18 years of age.

RESULTS

The 165 patients (LN: 45, white: 95) entered the registry within a median of 0 (IQR: 0-1) year post diagnosis and were followed up for a median of 4 (IQR: 2-5) years during which 80%, 92% and 94% achieved LLDAS, low-CS and SLEDAI-LD. Patients with LN were significantly less likely to achieve any T2T state (all p<0.03) and required a significantly longer time to reach them (all p<0.0001). Over the study period, patients maintained low-CS, SLEDAI-LD or LLDAS for a median of 76% (IQR: 48%-100%), 86% (IQR: 55%-100%) or 39% (IQR: 13%-64%) of their follow-up. Significant predictors of failure to maintain LLDAS included LN (p≤0.0062), pre-existing damage (p≤0.0271) and non-white race (p≤0.0013). There were 22%, 20% and 13% of patients who reached SLEDAI-LD, CS-low and LLDAS and nonetheless acquired new damage. Patients with LN had a higher risk of new damage than patients without LN even if achieving low-CS (p=0.009) or LLDAS (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with LN and pre-existing damage are at higher risk of increased future damage acquisition, even if achieving a T2T state such as LLDAS. Among proposed common T2T states, the LLDAS is the hardest to achieve and maintain. The LLDAS may be considered the preferred T2T measure as it conveys the highest protection from acquiring additional disease damage.

Influence of X chromosome in sex-biased autoimmune diseases

Females have better ability to resolve infections, compared to males, but also, a greater susceptibility to develop autoimmunity. Besides the initial interest on the contribution of sex-steroid hormone signaling, the role of genetic factors linked to X chromosome has recently focused much attention. In human and mouse, the number of X chromosomes, rather than sex-steroid hormones, have been found associated with higher risk or susceptibility to develop autoimmunity, particularly rheumatic diseases, such as SLE, Sjögren's syndrome or Scleroderma. For all of these diseases, the Toll-like receptor TLR7 and TLR8, encoded on the same locus in the human Xp, have been demonstrated to be causal in disease development through gene dosage effect or gain of function mutations. During embryonic development in female mammals, one X chromosome is stochastically inactivated to balance X-linked gene expression between males and females, a process known as X chromosome inactivation (XCI). Nevertheless, some genes including immune related genes can escape XCI to variable degree and penetrance, resulting in a bi-allelic expression in some immune cells, such as TLR7. Because tight regulation of TLR expression is necessary for a healthy, self-tolerant immune environment, XCI escape has been proposed as a mechanism contributing to this sexual dimorphism. In this review, we will summarize general mechanisms of XCI, and describe the known escapee's genes in immune cells, the cellular diversity created by such mechanisms and its potential implication in autoimmune diseases, with a particular focus on the X-linked genes and immune cell populations involved in SLE. Whether dysregulated expression of X-linked genes could contribute to the enhanced susceptibility of females to develop such diseases remains to be proven. Shedding lights onto the X-linked genetic mechanisms contributing to modulation of immune cell functions will undoubtedly provide new insights into the intricate mechanisms underlying sex differences in immunity and autoimmunity.

Analysis of choroidal thickness in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and its correlation with laboratory tests

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to investigate the alterations of choroidal thickness (CT) in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) using enhanced depth imaging optical coherence tomography (EDI-OCT). We also aimed to assess whether CT parameters correlated with systemic health status in JSLE patients.

METHODS

JSLE patients and age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were recruited. A detailed ophthalmological examination was applied to all participants. CT measurements were acquired in the macular region using EDI-OCT. Moreover, a spectrum of laboratory tests was examined to evaluate the systemic conditions, and the Th1/Th2/Th17/Treg cytokine profiles in the peripheral blood were also analyzed in JSLE group.

RESULTS

A total of 45 JSLE patients with no visual impairment and 50 healthy individuals were enrolled in the study. CT values in the macular region were decreased in JSLE patients when compared with healthy controls, even adjusting for age, axial length and refraction. There were no significant correlations between CT and cumulative dose of hydroxychloroquine or duration of hydroxychloroquine use (all P > 0.05). The average macular, temporal and subfoveal CT in JSLE group was negatively correlated with IL-6 and IL-10 (all P < 0.05), but had no significant correlations with other laboratory results (all P > 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

JSLE patients without ocular involvement may have significant variations in choroidal thickness at the macular area. Choroidal alterations might be associated with the systemic cytokine profiles in JSLE.

Anorexia Nervosa in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): A Causality Dilemma

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) is an autoimmune disorder with multifaceted clinical findings in different organ systems. Neuropsychiatric manifestations affect more than half of SLE patients, and there is increasing evidence that anorexia nervosa (AN), a feeding and eating disorder (FED) characterized by significantly reduced energy intake, is among them. Herein, a review of the literature on the potential association between jSLE and AN was performed. Reported clinical cases were identified, and putative pathophysiological mechanisms were sought that could potentially explain the observed relationship between these two pathological entities. Four reports of isolated cases and a case series including seven patients were identified. In this limited patient pool, the diagnosis of AN preceded that of SLE in the majority of cases, whereas in all cases both entities were diagnosed within a time span of two years. Many explanations for the observed relationships have been proposed. AN has been associated with the stress of chronic disease diagnosis; on the other hand, the chronic inflammation associated with AN may contribute to the development/appearance of SLE. Adverse childhood experiences, concentrations of leptin, shared autoantibodies, and genetic traits appear to be important factors in this well-established interplay. In essence, it seems important to increase clinician awareness of the concomitant development of AN and SLE and invite further research on the subject.

Targeted multiomics in childhood-onset SLE reveal distinct biological phenotypes associated with disease activity: results from an explorative study

OBJECTIVE

To combine targeted transcriptomic and proteomic data in an unsupervised hierarchical clustering method to stratify patients with childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) into similar biological phenotypes, and study the immunological cellular landscape that characterises the clusters.

METHODS

Targeted whole blood gene expression and serum cytokines were determined in patients with cSLE, preselected on disease activity state (at diagnosis, Low Lupus Disease Activity State (LLDAS), flare). Unsupervised hierarchical clustering, agnostic to disease characteristics, was used to identify clusters with distinct biological phenotypes. Disease activity was scored by clinical SELENA-SLEDAI (Safety of Estrogens in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index). High-dimensional 40-colour flow cytometry was used to identify immune cell subsets.

RESULTS

Three unique clusters were identified, each characterised by a set of differentially expressed genes and cytokines, and by disease activity state: cluster 1 contained primarily patients in LLDAS, cluster 2 contained mainly treatment-naïve patients at diagnosis and cluster 3 contained a mixed group of patients, namely in LLDAS, at diagnosis and disease flare. The biological phenotypes did not reflect previous organ system involvement and over time, patients could move from one cluster to another. Healthy controls clustered together in cluster 1. Specific immune cell subsets, including CD11c+ B cells, conventional dendritic cells, plasmablasts and early effector CD4+ T cells, differed between the clusters.

CONCLUSION

Using a targeted multiomic approach, we clustered patients into distinct biological phenotypes that are related to disease activity state but not to organ system involvement. This supports a new concept where choice of treatment and tapering strategies are not solely based on clinical phenotype but includes measuring novel biological parameters.

Clinical phenotypes and prognosis of cytomegalovirus infection in the pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus: a longitudinal analysis

BACKGROUND

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, it is not clear whether the anti-CMV treatment has an impact on the prognosis of SLE patients with CMV infection. We aimed to analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of CMV infection in pediatric SLE (pSLE) and to evaluate the effect of anti-CMV treatment on pSLE outcome.

METHODS

A retrospective study including 146 pSLE from 2012 to 2021 was conducted. CMV-positive and CMV-negative groups were compared by univariate analysis and stepwise logistic multiple regression to analyze the clinical characteristics of CMV infection in pSLE. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to model the longitudinal dynamics of pSLE disease activity with or without CMV infection and anti-CMV treatment.

RESULTS

The CMV infection rate was 74.7% (109/146) in this pSLE cohort. CMV-positive pSLE patients were more likely to present positive anti-dsDNA antibody, hypocomplementemia, high SLEDAI-2K score and musculoskeletal involvement (P < 0.05). Survival analysis showed that CMV-positive pSLE patients were more prone to disease flare and poorer outcomes. GEE modeling indicated that CMV phosphoprotein 65 (pp65) titers were positively correlated with SLEDAI-2K, and anti-CMV treatment could better reduce pSLE activity than non-treatment (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

CMV infection is highly prevalent among pSLE patients. Positive anti-dsDNA antibody, hypocomplementemia, high SLEDAI-2K score and musculoskeletal involvement were significant clinical clues indicating CMV infections in pSLE. CMV infection is correlated with higher disease activity and poorer outcome. Anti-CMV treatment can reduce disease activity and flares.

The experience of rituximab therapy in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus: the preliminary results of two-center cohort study

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an immunopathological disease which is characterized by a poor prognosis. Biologics applied in the disease treatment allow reducing the corticosteroid toxicity and controlling the disease.Purpose. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab therapy in children with systemic lupus erythematosus.Material and methods. The retrospective study included data of 48 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus treated with rituximab. Systemic lupus erythematosus was diagnosed based on the SLICC classification criteria. Patients were assessed at baseline disease status, at the time of rituximab initiation and follow-up. The indications for the rituximab were: lupus nephritis, CNS involvement, and hematological involvement resistant to the standard therapy, and in cases of severe corticosteroid toxicity.Results. During rituximab therapy the significant decrease of the SELENA–SLEDAI activity index was observed. There was a significant decrease of the level of antibodies against dsDNA, normalization of the levels of hemoglobin, ESR, complement C4. The proportion of patients with cytopenia decreased up to their complete absence in patients receiving therapy for three years. The number of patients with active lupus nephritis decreased from 16 at the time of rituximab initiation to 1 after 3 years of therapy. Significant dynamics of proteinuria and hematuria was noted, except for 1 patient. The daily dose of corticosteroids was reduced by 90% from baseline in patients treated for 3 years. Serious adverse events included three deaths in patients with high systemic lupus erythematosus activity with uncontrolled macrophage activation syndrome associated with infections. Various infectious complications, hypogammaglobulinemia, which required replacement therapy with intravenous immunoglobulin, were also recorded.Conclusion. Rituximab can be considered as an option for the treatment of severe forms of systemic lupus erythematosus which are resistant to standard therapy. Further studies are required to evaluate efficacy and safety.

Current views on lupus in children

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

This manuscript provides an update on clinical and pathophysiological features of juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosis (jSLE), challenges applying adult-derived classification criteria, and recent advances in treatment and care.

RECENT FINDINGS

Significant scientific advances have improved the understanding of genetic factors (both genetic causes and risk alleles) and associated phenotypic features. Panels of urine/blood biomarker candidates aid in diagnosing jSLE, monitoring disease activity and predicting treatment response. Available classification criteria have been extensively assessed, with differences in clinical and immunological phenotypes of patients across age groups and ethnicities affecting their performance in jSLE. Therapeutic options remain limited and are based on protocols for adult-onset SLE patients. International efforts to inform development of a treat-to-target (T2T) approach for jSLE have yielded cohort-level evidence that target attainment reduces the risk of severe flare and new damage, and treatment compliance.

SUMMARY

Recent studies have significantly improved our understanding of jSLE pathogenesis, highlighting important differences between jSLE and adult SLE, and providing the basis of biomarker development and target-directed individualized treatment and care. Future work focused on development of a T2T approach in jSLE is eagerly awaited.

Panel sequencing links rare, likely damaging gene variants with distinct clinical phenotypes and outcomes in juvenile-onset SLE

OBJECTIVES

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) affects 15-20% of lupus patients. Clinical heterogeneity between racial groups, age groups and individual patients suggests variable pathophysiology. This study aimed to identify highly penetrant damaging mutations in genes associated with SLE/SLE-like disease in a large national cohort (UK JSLE Cohort Study) and compare demographic, clinical and laboratory features in patient sub-cohorts with 'genetic' SLE vs remaining SLE patients.

METHODS

Based on a sequencing panel designed in 2018, target enrichment and next-generation sequencing were performed in 348 patients to identify damaging gene variants. Findings were integrated with demographic, clinical and treatment related datasets.

RESULTS

Damaging gene variants were identified in ∼3.5% of jSLE patients. When compared with the remaining cohort, 'genetic' SLE affected younger children and more Black African/Caribbean patients. 'Genetic' SLE patients exhibited less organ involvement and damage, and neuropsychiatric involvement developed over time. Less aggressive first line treatment was chosen in 'genetic' SLE patients, but more second and third line agents were used. 'Genetic' SLE associated with anti-dsDNA antibody positivity at diagnosis and reduced ANA, anti-LA and anti-Sm antibody positivity at last visit.

CONCLUSION

Approximately 3.5% of jSLE patients present damaging gene variants associated with younger age at onset, and distinct clinical features. As less commonly observed after treatment induction, in 'genetic' SLE, autoantibody positivity may be the result of tissue damage and explain reduced immune complex-mediated renal and haematological involvement. Routine sequencing could allow for patient stratification, risk assessment and target-directed treatment, thereby increasing efficacy and reducing toxicity.

The efficacy and safety of cyclosporine in children with systemic lupus erythematosus: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare but severe multisystem autoimmune/inflammatory disease with marked heterogeneity between patients, causing anything from mild to life-threatening disease. We performed a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the efficacy and safety of cyclosporine in childhood-onset SLE.

METHODS

This systematic review has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022377450), which will be conducted in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols 2015 statement. Only randomized controlled trials will be included.We searched the following databases including PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, SinoMed, CNKI, VIP, Wanfang Data and International Clinical Trials Register Search Portal, and Clinical Trials.gov. Two researchers will use the Cochrane systematic evaluation tool to assess the risk of bias independently. Data synthesis will be performed using RevMan V.5.4.

RESULTS

This study will comprehensively summarize the high-quality trials to determine the efficacy and safety of cyclosporine in the treatment of childhood-onset SLE.

CONCLUSION

This study may be beneficial to health policymakers, clinicians, and patients with regard to the use of cyclosporine in childhood-onset SLE.

The Influence of Sex Hormones and X Chromosome in Immune Responses

Males and females differ in their susceptibility to develop autoimmunity and allergy but also in their capacity to cope with infections and cancers. Cellular targets and molecular pathways underlying sexual dimorphism in immunity have started to emerge and appeared multifactorial. It became increasingly clear that sex-linked biological factors have important impact on the development, tissue maintenance and effector function acquisition of distinct immune cell populations, thereby regulating multiple layers of innate or adaptive immunity through distinct mechanisms. This review discusses the recent development in our understanding of the cell-intrinsic actions of biological factors linked to sex, sex hormones and sex chromosome complement, on immune cells, which may account for the sex differences in susceptibility to autoimmune diseases and allergies, and the sex-biased responses in natural immunity and cancer.

Pericardial Effusion Causing Cardiac Tamponade in a 10-Year-Old Male

A 10-year-old male with a past medical history of premature pubarche, mild persistent asthma, and eczema presented to the emergency department with progressive dyspnea and chest pain. On examination, he was found to be tachycardic and tachypneic. Chest radiograph demonstrated cardiomegaly, bilateral pleural effusions, and scattered atelectasis. Echocardiogram revealed a large pericardial effusion with right atrial collapse. The patient was admitted to the pediatric ICU for pericardiocentesis and drain placement. As he later became hypertensive and febrile, we will discuss how our patient's hospital course guided our differential diagnosis and how we arrived at a definitive diagnosis using a multidisciplinary approach.

Construction of molecular subgroups in childhood systemic lupus erythematosus using bioinformatics

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disorder. In patients with childhood SLE (cSLE), the onset of the disease occurs before 18 years of age and accounts for a high proportion of childhood autoimmune diseases. Adult SLE and cSLE differ in terms of clinical manifestations, gene expression profiles, and treatment. Because current diagnostic methods do not meet clinical requirements, researchers currently use transcriptome analysis to investigate the characteristics of the cSLE genome. In the present study, we used bioinformatics methods to genotype cSLE and identify potential therapeutic targets.

METHODS

The transcriptomes of 952 patients with cSLE and 94 normal controls were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus using unsupervised class learning to determine the genotypes in the microarray dataset, and the clinical characteristics, differentially expressed genes, and biological characteristics of the subtypes were analyzed.

RESULTS

Patients with cSLE were accordingly classified into three subgroups. Subgroup I was associated with lupus nephritis, female patients, and a high SLE disease activity index, and the disease in this subgroup was more severe than that in other subgroups. The SLE disease activity index in subgroup II was low; this subgroup may be related to lupus vasculitis. Subgroup III mostly included male patients and was associated with neuropsychiatric manifestations of lupus.

CONCLUSION

We divided patients with cSLE into three subgroups with different characteristics based on transcriptome data. Our findings provide molecular evidence for future diagnosis and individualized treatment of cSLE.

Cognitive Performance in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Using the Ped-ANAM

Computerized batteries have been widely used to investigate cognitive impairment (CI) in patients with SLE. The aim of this study was to evaluate the cognitive performance of patients with SLE in relation to healthy controls using the Pediatric Automated Neuropsychological Assessment Metrics (Ped-ANAM) battery. In addition, we aimed to examine differences in Ped-ANAM scores according to age of disease onset, presence of disease activity, and disease damage. We included 201 consecutive adult-onset (aSLE) and childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) patients who were being followed at the hospital's rheumatology outpatient clinic and 177 healthy controls. We applied the percentage of correct answers on the Ped-ANAM subtests and the Performance Validity Index (PVI) metric and correlated them with the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Damage Index (SDI). Then, we established their relationships with neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). We observed CI in a total of 38 (18.9%) SLE patients and 8 (4.5%) healthy controls (p < 0.001). CI was observed in eight (19.5%) cSLE patients and 32 (20%) aSLE patients (p = 0.8175). Individual analysis of the aSLE subtests showed a significant difference in all subtests compared to healthy controls; the greatest differences were in matching to sample (p < 0.001) and memory search ( p < 0.001). In the cSLE group, we observed a difference in the code substitution subtests (p = 0.0065) compared to the healthy controls. In the evaluation of clinical outcomes, disease activity was significantly correlated with CI in cSLE (r = 0.33; p = 0.042) and aSLE (r = 0.40; p = 0.001). We also observed an association between disease activity and neuropsychiatric manifestations (p = 0.0012) in aSLE. In conclusion, we determined that cognitive dysfunction, mainly in memory and attention, was more prevalent in patients with SLE. In both the cSLE and aSLE groups, disease activity was associated with worse cognitive function. This is the first study to use the Ped-ANAM in Brazil. Longitudinal studies are necessary to determine how the Ped-ANAM will perform over time.

Chronic kidney disease in patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a frequent manifestation of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) with a potential risk for kidney failure and poor outcomes. This study aimed to evaluate stages III, IV, and V of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and investigate risk factors for CKD in cSLE patients.

METHODS

We performed a nationwide observational cohort study in 27 pediatric rheumatology centers, including medical charts of 1528 cSLE patients. Data were collected at cSLE diagnosis, during follow-up, and at last visit or death, between September 2016 and May 2019.

RESULTS

Of 1077 patients with LN, 59 (5.4%) presented with CKD, 36/59 (61%) needed dialysis, and 7/59 (11.8%) were submitted for kidney transplantation. After Bonferroni's correction for multiple comparisons (p < 0.0013), determinants associated with CKD were higher age at last visit, urinary biomarker abnormalities, neuropsychiatric involvement, higher scores of disease activity at last visit and damage index, and more frequent use of methylprednisolone, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, and rituximab. In the regression model analysis, arterial hypertension (HR = 15.42, 95% CI = 6.12-38.83, p ≤ 0.001) and biopsy-proven proliferative nephritis (HR = 2.83, 95%CI = 1.70-4.72, p ≤ 0.001) increased the risk of CKD, while children using antimalarials had 71.0% lower CKD risk ((1.00-0.29) × 100%) than children not using them. The Kaplan-Meier comparison showed lower survival in cSLE patients with biopsy-proven proliferative nephritis (p = 0.02) and CKD (p ≤ 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

A small number of patients manifested CKD; however, frequencies of dialysis and kidney transplantation were relevant. This study reveals that patients with cSLE with hypertension, proliferative nephritis, and absence of use of antimalarials exhibited higher hazard rates of progression to CKD. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

Systemic lupus of pediatric onset in Afro-Caribbean children: a cohort study in the French West Indies and French Guiana

BACKGROUND

Systemic diseases of pediatric onset are more frequent in the Afro-Caribbean population. We performed a study of patients followed in the French overseas departments of America (FOAD) for pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE). The aims were to describe the clinical and biological specificities during childhood in this population.

METHODS

A retrospective study was conducted between January 2000 and September 2021. Patients with pSLE were identified from multiple sources: computerized hospital archives, registry of referring pediatricians, adult specialists in internal medicine and the French National Registry for rare diseases. We studied SLE with pediatric onset defined by international criteria.

RESULTS

Overall, 2148 patients were identified, of whom 54 were included. The average follow-up was 8.3 years (range: 0.3-25 years). We observed an increase in new diagnoses over time. At onset, pSLE patients had a median of 10 SLICC criteria (range: 4-12), and the median EULAR/ACR 2019 score was 38 (12-54). At onset, one third of patients had renal involvement, 15% had neurolupus and 41% cardiac involvement. During childhood, 54% had renal involvement, and 26% suffered from neurolupus. Patients suffered a median of 3 flares during childhood, and 26% had more than 5 flares. Patients with younger age at onset had worse outcomes than those who were older at diagnosis, i.e., more flares (median 5, p = 0.02) and requiring an average of 4 background therapies (p = 0.04).

CONCLUSION

The outcomes of Afro-Caribbean patients were similar to those in Western population, but with worse disease activity at onset. Further studies should be performed to identify the genetic and environmental factors in this population.

Autoimmune hemolytic anemia as an initial presentation in children with systemic lupus erythematosus: two case reports

We report the cases of two children who presented with autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) as an initial presentation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Both patients had a positive Coombs test, anemia, and an increased number of spherocytes in their blood smear. The patient in Case 1 presented with fever, urticarial erythema, facial paresis, AIHA, and leucopenia. Immunological screening revealed low complement protein levels and positive anti-nuclear antibody, anti-double-stranded DNA, and antiphospholipid antibody results. A further laboratory workup revealed a positive lupus anticoagulant (LA) result and low factor II levels. She was diagnosed with lupus anticoagulant hypoprothrombinemia syndrome (LAHPS) in addition to SLE. The patient in Case 2 presented with fever, butterfly rash, thyroid enlargement, leucopenia, and AIHA. She was diagnosed with SLE with thyroiditis. Both patients were started on combined immunosuppressive therapy, and both patients’ clinical symptoms finally resolved. A literature review on childhood SLE showed that AIHA is common in patients with SLE. LAHPS is an uncommonly identified cause of bleeding in patients with SLE, and it must be considered when evaluating children with a positive LA result.

Autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases with mucocutaneous manifestations: A pediatric rheumatology perspective

The presence of mucocutaneous manifestations has clinical significance, as it may be a part of the initial presentation or activation stage of both autoimmune and autoinflammatory rheumatic diseases. The cutaneous signs may display a particular morphological and topographic distribution according to taxonomy, whereas heterogeneity is likely observed among the individuals. The review aims to cluster and systematically approach the mucocutaneous manifestations met in autoimmune and autoinflammatory rheumatic diseases of childhood. The search strategy involved a comprehensive inquiry on Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases using relevant search terms such as "dermatologic, cutaneous, mucocutaneous, skin, rash" for each disease and category. The awareness of the distinctive mucocutaneous manifestations and their correlation with rheumatic diseases provides a convenient definition, well-timed control of the underlying condition, and prevention of cosmetic issues. In the management of rheumatic diseases, planning the pertinent differential diagnosis and determining the requirement of histopathological assessment are essential with a multidisciplinary approach to rheumatology, dermatology, and allergy-immunology specialties.

Clinical and laboratorial outcome of different age-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients in Jiangsu, China: a multicentre retrospective study

Studies on clinical features of systemic lupus erythematosus among different age-onset patients are lacking in China. This multicentre study aimed to systemically compare clinical manifestations, comorbidities, organ involvement, and laboratory findings among 797 Chinese juvenile-onset, adult-onset, and late-onset SLE (JSLE, ASLE, and LSLE) patients. They were classified into JSLE, ASLE, and LSLE groups if first diagnosed at < 18, 18–50, and > 50 years old, respectively. Chi-square test and analysis of variance were employed for categorical and continuous variables respectively. In younger-onset patients, the SLE Disease Activity Index 2000 score was significantly higher (JSLE vs. ASLE vs. LSLE = 17.43 ± 9.139 vs. 16.34 ± 8.163 vs. 14.08 ± 6.474, p = 0.031). Mucocutaneous symptoms (79.5% vs. 73.4% vs. 62.0%, p = 0.042), especially malar rash (76.1% vs. 66.1% vs. 53.5%, p = 0.011) occurred more frequently, and proteinuria rate was higher (54.5% vs. 56.3% vs. 36.6%, p = 0.007). In later-onset patients, cardiopulmonary involvement increased (11.4% vs. 24.3% vs. 29.6%, p = 0.012). In ASLE, hypoalbuminemia rate elevated (46.6% vs. 59.9% vs. 47.9%, p = 0.015). Our study demonstrated in a Chinese population that JSLE may be more active and suffer mucocutaneous disorders, while LSLE tended to suffer cardiopulmonary involvement at-onset. These findings may help identify treatment priorities when facing different age-onset SLE patients.

Real world treatment of juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: Data from the UK JSLE cohort study

BACKGROUND

In the absence of clinical trials evidence, Juvenile-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (JSLE) treatment plans vary.

AIM

To explore 'real world' treatment utilising longitudinal UK JSLE Cohort Study data.

METHODS

Data collected between 07/2009-05/2020 was used to explore the choice/sequence of immunomodulating drugs from diagnosis. Multivariate logistic regression determined how organ-domain involvement (pBILAG-2004) impacted treatment choice.

RESULT

349 patients met inclusion criteria, median follow-up 4-years (IQR:2,6). Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) was most commonly used for the majority of organ-domains, and significantly associated with renal involvement (OR:1.99, 95% CI:1.65-2.41, pc < 0.01). Analyses assessing the sequence of immunomodulators focused on 197/349 patients (meeting relevant inclusion/exclusion criteria). 10/197 (5%) solely recieved hydroxychloroquine/prednisolone, 62/197 (31%) received a single-immunomodulator, 69/197 (36%) received two, and 36/197 patients (28%) received ≥three immunomodulators. The most common first and second line immunomodulator was MMF. Rituximab was the most common third-line immunomodulator.

CONCLUSIONS

Most UK JSLE patients required ≥two immunomodulators, with MMF used most commonly.

Performance of the EULAR/ACR 2019 classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematous in monogenic lupus

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the application of the EULAR/ACR-2019 criteria to monogenic lupus patients and compare its performance against the SLICC-2012 criteria.

METHODS

In a multicenter retrospective cohort study, consecutive patients with monogenic lupus from three tertiary lupus clinics were enrolled. The diagnosis of monogenic lupus was based on the expert physician's opinion or fulfilling the SLICC-2012 criteria. All enrolled patients had genetic variants. A control group of sporadic childhood SLE (cSLE) and non-SLE patients, were included. A descriptive data analysis was conducted, and the EULAR/ACR-2019 and SLICC-2012 criteria were applied to both groups.

RESULTS

Forty-nine patients with monogenic lupus with a median age at diagnosis of 6.0 (IQR 3.0-10.8) years and 104 controls (55 patients with cSLE and 49 non-lupus patients with a median age at diagnosis of 10.0 and 5.0 respectively) were included. Forty-four (89.8%) patients with monogenic lupus fulfilled the EULAR/ACR-2019 with a mean score of 22.3±8.9. The most frequent domains were immunologic (93.9%), musculoskeletal and renal (each 57.1%), and mucocutaneous (55.1%). Fifty-four (98.2%) cSLE patients and six (12.2%) non-lupus patients met the EULAR/ACR-2019 criteria with a mean score of 22.5±9.2 and 8.5±5.2, respectively. The sensitivity of the EULAR/ACR-2019 criteria in monogenic lupus was 89.9% (95% CI: 78.3-90.2), while the specificity was 87.6% (95% CI: 75.2-88.7).

CONCLUSION

This is the first and largest cohort of monogenic lupus patients testing the performance of the 2019-EULAR/ACR criteria. It efficiently classifies monogenic lupus patients, irrespective of the underlying genetic variants. Further studies are needed before these criteria are adopted worldwide. Key Points • Typically, patients with monogenic lupus have early onset severe disease, especially with mucocutaneous manifestations and a strong family history of SLE. • Monogenic lupus is a distinctive entity and might differ from the sporadic childhood SLE. • Our study includes a large multinational cohort of monogenic lupus with heterogeneous phenotypic features and underlying genetic variants. • Our study demonstrates that the EULAR/ACR-2019 criteria efficiently classified monogenic lupus patients, irrespective of the diversity of the underlying genetic variants.

2019 ACR/EULAR classification criteria and therapy in predicting organ damage accrual in patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: A retrospective study over the last 29 years

OBJECTIVE

We explored damage occurrence in patients with childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) and aimed to predict the risk of organ damage occurrence in time.

METHODS

The retrospective study included patients treated for cSLE at the Centre of Reference for Pediatric and Adolescent Rheumatology of the Republic Croatia over a 29-year period.

RESULTS

The disease development of 97 patients (77 females) with cSLE was examined. The median (Q₁, Q₃) follow-up time was 6.5 (2.3, 12.0) years. SDI was determined at 5 time points (6, 12, 24, 36 months, and last follow-up). Thirty-eight patients (48%) had organ damage at the last follow-up. Prepubertal group of patients showed higher SLEDAI scores at the disease onset, while post-pubertal group had significantly lower proportion of patients with relapses. We estimated the time from the first symptom to the moment of damage and our findings suggest that it is unlikely that organ damage will occur in 50% of patients in the first 6 years since the diagnosis. The number of 2019 ACR/EULAR classification criteria at the time of diagnosis associated with SDI determined after 1 year of the follow-up period. The patients who received higher doses of glucocorticoids accumulated damage faster and mycophenolate mofetil was found to be a more frequent therapy in patients with SDI ≥3.

CONCLUSION

Knowing that damage will most likely happen after the first 6 years after diagnosis in 50% of patients enables physicians to better predict damage occurrence. High number of 2019 ACR/EULAR criteria and treatment with glucocorticoids in childhood-onset SLE are associated with damage accrual and these findings could enable us to detect patients which should be closely monitored for higher risk of damage development.

Hematologic manifestations of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus: An emphasis on anemia

Objective

Anemia is common in patients with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE). While autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is the only etiology included in the classification criteria, the etiology of anemia in jSLE may be diverse. We aimed to investigate the etiology of anemia in jSLE and the relationship between anemia and disease characteristics at onset and during the follow-up period.

Methods

Patients diagnosed with jSLE who met the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International Collaborating Clinics classification criteria between January 2012 and December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

Hematologic involvement was observed in 70% of the patients. Anemia was the most common cytopenia among patients (60%). Anemia of chronic disease (ACD) and AIHA were the most common etiological factors, both observed in 23% of patients. Patients with anemia had a significantly higher rate of positive ds-DNA antibody and higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESH) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) scores. ESH, serum ferritin, and SLEDAI scores negatively correlated with hemoglobin levels in patients with anemia. Iron deficiency was the sole etiology of new-onset anemia. Patients with new-onset anemia during the follow-up period had significantly lower hemoglobin values at onset and a higher rate of renal involvement.

Conclusion

Anemia in jSLE is mostly AIHA and ACD, but iron deficiency is not rare. The severity of inflammation is associated with the severity of anemia. During the follow-up period, iron deficiency was the predominant cause of anemia, especially in patients with lower hemoglobin concentrations at onset and renal involvement.

Pharmacokinetics of mycophenolic acid and external evaluation of two limited sampling strategies of drug exposure in patients with juvenile systematic lupus erythematosus

INTRODUCTION

Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), a pro-drug of mycophenolic acid (MPA), has become a major therapeutic option in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE). Monitoring MPA exposure using area under curve (AUC) has proved its value to increase efficacy and safety in solid organ transplantation both in children and adults, but additional data are required in patients with autoimmune diseases. In order to facilitate MMF therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) in children, Bayesian estimators (BE) of MPA AUC_0-12 h using limited sampling strategies (LSS) have been developed. Our aim was to conduct an external validation of these LSS using rich pharmacokinetics and compare their predictive performance.

METHODS

Pharmacokinetic blood samples were collected from jSLE treated by MMF and MPA plasma concentrations were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography system with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV). Individual AUC_0-12 h at steady state was calculated using the trapezoid rule and compared with two LSS: (1) ISBA, a two-stage Bayesian approach developed for jSLE and (2) ADAPT, a non-linear mixed effects model with a parametric maximum likelihood approach developed with data from renal transplanted adults.

RESULTS

We received 41 rich pediatric PK at steady state from jSLE and calculated individual AUC_0-12 h. The external validation MPA AUC_0-12 h was conducted by selecting the concentration-time points adapted to ISBA and ADAPT: (1) ISBA showed good accuracy (bias: - 0.8 mg h/L), (2) ADAPT resulted in a bias of 6.7 mg L/h. The corresponding relative root mean square prediction error (RSME) was 23% and 43% respectively.

CONCLUSION

According to our external validation of two LSS of drug exposure, the ISBA model is recommended for Bayesian estimation of MPA AUC_0-12 h in jSLE. In the literature focusing on MMF TDM, an efficacy cut-off for MPA AUC_0-12 h between 30 and 45 mg h/L is proposed in jSLE but this requires additional validation.

Associations of lymphocyte subpopulations with clinical phenotypes and long-term outcomes in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is a complex and heterogeneous immune-mediated disease. Cellular components have crucial roles in disease phenotypes and outcomes. We aimed to determine the associations of lymphocyte subsets with clinical manifestations and long-term outcomes in JSLE patients.

METHODS

A cohort of 60 JSLE patients provided blood samples during active disease, of whom 34 provided further samples during inactive disease. In a longitudinal study, blood samples were obtained from 49 of the JSLE patients at 0, 3, and 6 months. The healthy control (HC) group consisted of 42 age-matched children. Lymphocyte subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

The percentages of CD4+ T, γδ T, and NK cells were significantly decreased in JSLE patients compared with HC, while the percentages of CD8+ T, NKT, and CD19+ B cells were significantly increased. The percentage of regulatory T cells (Tregs) was significantly lower in JSLE patients with lupus nephritis (LN) than in non-LN JSLE patients and HC. The patients were stratified into high and low groups by the median frequency of each lymphocyte subset. The γδ T cells high group and NK cells high group were significantly related to mucosal ulcer. The CD4+ T cells high group was significantly associated with arthritis, and the NKT cells high group was substantially linked with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. The CD8+ T cells low group was mainly related to vasculitis, and the Tregs low group was significantly associated with LN. The percentage of Tregs was significantly increased at 6 months of follow-up, and the LN JSLE group had a lower Treg percentage than the non-LN JSLE group. Predictors of remission on therapy were high Tregs, high absolute lymphocyte count, direct Coombs test positivity, and LN absence at enrollment.

CONCLUSION

JSLE patients exhibited altered lymphocyte subsets, which were strongly associated with clinical phenotypes and long-term outcomes.