Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune, chronic, multisystemic inflammatory disease with an unknown etiology. The average age of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) diagnosis is 11-14 years old, with a significant female predominance. Clinical manifestations of JSLE are extremely variable, from a relatively mild disease characterised by facial rash, joint pains, fever, fatigue, weight loss, alopecia and arthralgias to a severe life threatening illness.These and other symptoms of diffuse generalized inflammation including lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly occur both at onset and during disease flares.The authors present the case of a girl hospitalized in the Rheumatology Clinic due to fevers, skin lesions and haematological disorders. The diagnostic difficulty may have been the fact that the symptoms appear also in the course of many pediatric diseases. Finally, based on an in-depth medical history, physical examination and the results of immunological tests, they were recognized at the outset. Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus is a disease with a diverse clinical picture, therefore, early diagnosis is not easy, but it is necessary to implement effective treatment. Knowledge and experience of the spectrum of paediatric and adolescent disease is important as well as recognition of when features merit further investigation.
Retrospective study of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) over the last 20 years: single center experience
