Demographic data of Egyptian juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus during COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

Background: Juvenile Systemic lupus erythematous is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that causes damage to various organs such as kidneys, blood, musculoskeletal and nervous system. SLE is variable ranging From mild to severe with unpredictable course of the disease and periods of remission and flares. Methods : The study included 67 patients diagnosed as having jSLE according to the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics(SLICC) for whom demographic data , full history and laboratory investigations were collected. Results: Among our study population were 13.4%males and 86.6% females with male to female ratio (1:6.4 ). Their mean age was 10.94±3 years. Most of our patients were from Giza (43.3%) followed by Cairo (22.4%). C3 and C4 were consumed in 74.6% of patients, proteinuria was present in 73.1% of patients , hematuria was present in 25.4% of patients. ANA was positive in 98.5% of patients at the time of diagnosis while antiDNA was positive in 85.1%. Conclusion: Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus is not uncommon in Egypt with female predominance as known worldwide but younger age of onset of the disease. During COVID 19 pandemic follow up was limited due to fear of infection.