Assessment of SLEDAI Score in Children with Lupus Nephritis Class III-IV in Vietnam National Children’s Hospital

Abstract

This study describes clinical, paraclinical characteristics and treatment response in children with nephritis class II-IV caused by systemic lupus erythematosus and validates SLEDAI for the evaluation of disease activity and the appropriate treatment strategy. A cross-sectional descriptive study was carried out on 40 children, 37 girls (92%) and 3 boys (8%), with an average age of 11.7 years with lupus nephritis class III- IV in Vietnam National Children’s Hospital in 2019. The study results show that the average score of SLEDAI in the children with pericardial and pleural effusions was 20.94 ± 4.09; high blood pressure, 20.89 ± 4.23; and gross hematuria, 20.29 ± 5.03, which were higher than those in children without these manifestations with p< 0.05. The most common kidney manifestations were nephrotic-range nephritis with renal failure (40%) and Glomerulonephritis (35%), corresponding to an average SLEDAI score of 24.25 ± 5.52 and 24.33 ± 3.2, respectively (p = 0.001). SLEDAI had an inverse correlation with the C3 complement value (r -0.315, p <0.05). The average SLEDAI score decreased gradually from 18.75 ± 4.22 to 3.38 ± 3.95 points (p <0.001) after 12 months of treatment. The study concludes that SLEDAI score was higher in patients with pleural and/or pericardial effusions, hypertension and gross hematuria, nephrotic-range nephritis with kidney failure or glomerulonephritis. SLEDAI score corresponded with the C3 complement value and the average SLEDAI score decreased gradually with treatment.
 Keywords:
 Lupus Nephritis class III- IV, SLEDAI.
 References
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