[Systemic lupus erythematosus in pediatrics]

Herein we present our experience with 16 children in whom the diagnosis of SLE was established between May 1974 and April 1978. In eleven of them renal biopsy was performed. Five had family history of immunologic disease. Only one patient had history of anticonvulsant drug intake. The clinical picture resembles adult SLE, where the most frequent symptoms were arthritis, fever and dermatosis. Three patients showed focal proliferative glomerulonephritis; another 3, increased mesangial cellularity; 3 more presented diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis and another one had membranous glomerulonephritis. LE cells, antinuclear antibodies, anti-DNA were present in various combinations in all patients. Treatment with an average dose of 22.8 mg/day of prednisone, plus immunosuppressive therapy in 9 patients, has allowed a 36 months survival in 13 patients. Progressive renal involvement and tuberculosis were the cause of death in 3 cases. Our results are compared with those in the literature.