Childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus at Hospital María, Especialidades pediátricas, 2019-2023

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex, multisystemic autoimmune disease with a multifactorial etiology. Objective: To describe the clinical and laboratory characteristics of patients with childhood-onset SLE treated at the Clinical Management Unit (CMU) of Immunology and Allergy at Hospital María, Especialidades Pediátricas (HMEP). Methods: This was an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study. The population included patients diagnosed with SLE who attended the CMU of Immunology and Allergy at HMEP. No sample size calculation was performed. Inclusion criteria were patients under 18 years of age, diagnosis of SLE by a pediatric immunologist at HMEP, and disease onset between 2019 and 2023. Descriptive statistics were used for the analysis. The study was approved by the Bioethics Committee of HMEP. Results: A total of 48 patients were analyzed. Females were predominantly affected, with a female-to-male ratio of 15:1. The mean age at diagnosis was 14 years, with adolescents comprising 91.2% of cases. Renal involvement was the most frequent manifestation, affecting 62.5% (30/48) of patients. Positive antinuclear antibodies were observed in 97.9% (47/48), and anti-DNA antibodies were positive in 81.2% (39/48). Hospitalization was required in 66.7% (32/48) of patients due to the severity of their symptoms. The mortality rate was 4.1% (2/48). Discussion: Although SLE in pediatrics is a low-incidence condition, its severity and chronic progression make it imperative to establish an early diagnostic suspicion and ensure timely referral for management.