Longitudinal growth patterns and final height in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) are at risk of becoming short adults. To evaluate the growth patterns and risk factors of short final height, a retrospective study was conducted in 97 patients (87 females, 90%) with cSLE who grew from the time of diagnosis and reached their final height. The primary outcome was the final height. Participants were divided into participants with short final height (final height standard deviation score (HSDS) < - 2, n = 22, 23%) and participants with normal final height (final HSDS ≥ - 2, n = 75, 77%). At diagnosis, the mean age was 11.3 ± 2.4 years and HSDS was - 0.5 ± 1.3. The participants reached the final height of 1.51 ± 0.08 m (final HSDS - 1.3 ± 0.1) at mean age of 16.2 ± 2.3 years. The HSDS of participants with short final height steadily declined throughout the course of SLE (p = 0.02), and were significantly lower than participants with normal final height at any time point (p < 0.001). In participants with normal final height, HSDS significantly declined from baseline until 2 years after diagnosis (p = 0.01), and then became stable thereafter. The independent risk factors for short final height were the male sex, short stature at diagnosis, low body weight at final height, and cumulative corticosteroid dose.Conclusion: A substantial number of the participants with cSLE became short adults. Adequate nutrition and corticosteroid minimization should be emphasized in patients at high risk for short final height. What is known? • Growth failure is common in SLE due to many risk factors including chronic inflammation, malnutrition, and long-term use of corticosteroids. • In comparison to growth failure, final height is a better indicator of growth as the prevalence of growth failure is variable depending on definitions, patient age and pubertal status. What is new? • Nearly one fourth of children with SLE have short final height. • The independent risk factors for short final height were the male sex, short stature at diagnosis, low body weight at final height, and cumulative corticosteroid dose.