CURRENT INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR THE DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF JUVENILE-ONSET SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with its onset in childhood or adolescence is a significant problem in the practice of pediatricians and rheumatologists due to diagnostic difficulties, clinical features, and the greater likelihood of unfavorable prognosis. About 20% of SLE patients fall ill at the age of 18 years. Only 13% of patients with juvenile-onset SLE have a drug-free remission in adulthood and have a lower quality of life than population controls. The paper discusses the latest international guidelines for the diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of SLE in children and adolescents, which were published in 2017, with comments based on the data available in the literature and on practical experiences in managing these patients.