The Analysis of Clinical Features of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in Children
Authors: Liang Ying , Zhang Pingping , Chen Huiqin , Luo Xiangqin , Ling Yesheng , Li Yating , Jin Ou , Kong Qian , Chen Fenhua , Mou Yikun 
Published: July 2021

Objective: Observe the clinical characteristics of children with SLE, namely, to observe the symptoms and laboratory examinations, such as blood routine, blood lipid, immunoglobulin, complement, autoantibodies, serum 25 (OH) D and other indicators, and to explore the clinical characteristics, the difference and the significance of vitamin D supplements between male and female SLE patients in children respectively. Methods: We enrolled 64 cases of SLE patients in children who were admitted into the department of pediatrics and rheumatology of the third affiliated hospital of sun yat-sen university in guangzhou from May 1, 2011 to February 1, 2019, They were analyzed retrospectively, adopting ?² test for statistical analysis. Results: 64 cases of SLE in children, which included 10 cases of male and 54 cases of female. Clinical manifestations: facial skin rash in 48 patients (75%), fever in 38 cases (59.4%), arthritis in 28 cases (43.8%), oral ulcer in 18 cases (28.1%), serositis in13 cases (20.3%), and the sun allergy in 9 cases (14.1%), the damage of central nervous system in 7 cases (10.9%) . Laboratory examination: 30 cases of leukopenia (46.9%), anemia in 30 cases (46.9%), thrombocytopenia in 12 cases (18.8%), hematuria in 18 cases (28.1%), proteinuria in 33 cases (51.2%), 6 patients with renal impairment (9.4%), antinuclear antibody positive in 63 cases (98.4%), anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibody positive in 48 cases (75%), anti SSA antibody positive in 44 cases (68.7%), SSB antibody positive in 33 cases (51.6%), Sm antibody positive in 40 cases (62.5%), nucleosome antibody positive in 28 cases (43.8%) .Among these children, male SLE patients were higher than female children with SLE in the damage of kidney, Sm antibodies and resisting nucleosome antibody positive rates (?²= 4.451, 8.336, 6.803, P<0.05), the female children with SLE was higher than male SLE Children in the anti-SSB antibody positive rate (?²=4.945, P < 0.05). In 64 cases of SLE children, which included 52 cases were lower than the normal level of serum 25 (OH) D measurements, 12 cases were in the normal lower limit of serum 25 (OH) D measurements, at the same time, the female SLE. Patients was higher than male children with SLE in the reduce rate of serum 25 (OH) D (?²= 8.351, P < 0.05). Conclusion: Male SLE patients which appeared damage of kidney easier than female patients , the proteinuria was the most common in the damage of kidney. Resistance to Sm antibodies which was the risk factor of renal injury with higher incidence in male children with SLE; Anti nucleosome antibody which was the risk factor for the disease activity in male children with SLE were higher than female children with SLE. It was estimated that the risk of Sjogren's syndrome appeared in female with SLE were higher than that in male SLE children. In this retrospective study, the serum 25 (OH) D levels were significantly lower in children with SLE, and vitamin D supplementation was required.