pediatric lupus
Also written as: pSLE — pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus occurring in children, typically presenting with more severe disease than adult-onset lupus.
Full Definition
Pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) affects approximately 10-20% of all lupus patients, with onset before age 18 years. Childhood-onset lupus typically presents with more aggressive disease, higher rates of renal and neuropsychiatric involvement, and greater accumulated organ damage compared to adult-onset disease. Common presenting features include constitutional symptoms, arthritis, rash, and cytopenias. Lupus nephritis occurs in 60-80% of pediatric patients compared to 40-50% in adults. The disease course is often characterized by periods of flare and remission, requiring aggressive immunosuppressive therapy and careful monitoring for treatment-related toxicities during critical developmental periods.
Usage
Usage note: Always specify 'pediatric' or 'childhood-onset' to distinguish from adult SLE in clinical documentation.
In Context
- "The adolescent presented with pediatric lupus complicated by Class IV lupus nephritis requiring aggressive immunosuppression." — Case presentation
- "Neuropsychiatric manifestations are more common in pediatric lupus than in adult-onset disease." — Clinical review