Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus. Neurological involvement

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Rheumatology
• Neuroscience
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Background:

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease.
• Neurological involvement is a significant concern in SLE patients, particularly in pediatric cases.
• Early identification of neurological complications is crucial for effective management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the prevalence and types of neurological involvement in female patients diagnosed with SLE before age 16.
• To investigate the correlation between clinical neurological findings and diagnostic tests like CT scans and cerebrospinal fluid analysis.

Main Methods:

• Evaluation of 17 female patients diagnosed with SLE according to 1982 American College of Rheumatology criteria before age 16.
• Clinical assessment for various neurological manifestations.
• Analysis of findings from CT scans and cerebrospinal fluid examinations.

Main Results:

• Neurological involvement was detected in 12 out of 17 patients (71%).
• Common neurological manifestations included headache (35%), extrapyramidal syndrome (35%), and epileptic syndrome (24%).
• CT scan (58%) and cerebrospinal fluid (50%) findings showed a strong correlation with clinical neurological involvement.

Conclusions:

• Neurological complications are highly prevalent in female pediatric patients with SLE.
• Headache, extrapyramidal syndrome, and epileptic syndrome are common neurological manifestations.
• Neuroimaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis are valuable tools for diagnosing neurological involvement in pediatric SLE.