Juvenile Systemic Lupus about an Observation and Review of the Literature

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a non- organ specific auto-immune disease of multifactorial origin (genetic, immunological, and environmental) acting in concert. The one with juvenile-onset is rare, renal involvement is the most frequent complication requiring mostly corticosteroid treatment. The objective of the Work: To show the importance of early diagnosis and management of juvenile systemic lupus with insidious evolution for a good functional and vital prognosis. Clinical Case: It was a 13-year-old girl carrying sickle cell trait (SCT) as well as her two parents, referred from pediatrics who present for 3 years chronic peripheral dry polyarthritis associating photosensitivity, biological analysis finds hemolytic anemia (hemoglobin level at 7.3g/dl), an inflammatory syndrome (VS at 98mn at the 1st hour and CRP at 56mg/l), transaminases, uremia, creatinemia, and glycemia were normal, but rheumatoid factors, antinuclear antibodies 1/210 type speckled aspect, U1RNP, anti-Sm and anti-SSA/Ro 52 came back positive following the new criteria of the SLICC group (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics) the diagnosis of juvenile lupus is retained, then put under treatment based on Prednisone 5 mg/d, Hydroxychloroquine 200 mg /d, blood transfusion (350ml iso rhesus group) The evolution was favorable with SLEDAI at 3.17 at the 3rd month and 2 at the 6th month. Conclusion: Juvenile lupus is more severe than adult lupus in terms of renal complications, corticosteroid treatment is a necessity which is not without side effects on growth.