Gender and ethnic origin have no effect on longterm outcome of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

J Rheumatol. 2004 Aug;31(8):1650-4.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the associations of gender and ethnic origin with longterm outcome in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: The study cohort consisted of 51 patients (13 males and 38 females) with childhood-onset SLE followed for > or = 5 years at the British Columbia Children's Hospital in Vancouver. Fifteen patients were Caucasian, 14 Chinese, 9 East Indian, and 13 patients were of other ethnic backgrounds: none was African-American or Hispanic. Outcome measures assessed retrospectively included Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index score (SDI), SLE-related death, need for dialysis or renal transplantation, and use of intensive immunosuppressive therapy. A SDI > or = 2 was assigned as poor outcome.

Results: The median age at diagnosis was 10.8 years and the median duration of followup was 7.2 years. Five-year survival was 100%; 10-year survival was 85.7% (12/14 patients). The median SDI score at last followup was 2.0 (range 0-9); 2.0 for male, 1.5 for female; 2.0 for Caucasian and 2.03 for non-Caucasian patients. Twenty-six out of 51 patients (51%) had poor outcome (SDI score > 2). Three female patients required dialysis: 2 had subsequent renal transplants. Thirty patients received intensive immunosuppressive therapy. The SDI scores, mortality, and need for intensive immunosuppressive therapy were not influenced by either gender or ethnic origin.

Conclusion: The median SDI score was high for this cohort with childhood-onset SLE. In contrast to other published data, no association of male gender and/or non-Caucasian ethnicity with poor outcome was found in our study cohort.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Age of Onset
  • Asian People
  • Child
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Indonesia / ethnology
  • Kidney Transplantation
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / complications*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / epidemiology*
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / ethnology
  • Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / therapy
  • Male
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Renal Dialysis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sex Factors
  • Survival Analysis
  • Treatment Outcome
  • White People

Substances

  • Immunosuppressive Agents