A Case of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Graves Disease in a Child

Abstract

Autoimmune diseases are occasionally associated with other autoimmune diseases in the same patients. Graves disease has been associated with systemic rheumatic diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The diagnosis of Graves disease in patients with SLE is well known, especially in adults, but few case reports have involved children and adolescents. We report a 14-year-old female who presented with Graves disease, proteinuria, arthralgia, decreased complement, and positive antinuclear antibody and who was diagnosed with SLE. Renal biopsy revealed class IV lupus glomerulonephritis. These clinical, laboratory, and histological findings indicate that class IV lupus nephritis may be associated with Graves disease. This possibility should be borne in mind when following patients with Graves disease in order to avoid any delay in the diagnosis and treatment of serious systemic autoimmune diseases such as SLE.