٢٠١٤ Adults-onset lupus Nephritis and Childhood-onset lupus Nephritis Similarities and Differences

Abstract

LE is a complex, chronic, multisystem, autoimmune disease that is characterized by a variable course with periods of exacerbations and remission. The disease is associated with a chronic activation of the immune system, with the most severe forms progressing to inflammatory damage that can impact multiple organ systems in afflicted individuals. SLE is known to be much more prevalent in females than in males, but the cause of this sexual predilection is not fully established. In addition, much controversy surrounds the differences in manifestations of SLE in both sexes. Although mainly it's a disease of women in childbearing age, its prevalence is not confined within this population. A total of 15–20% of cases present in children under 16 years of age. Although there have been limited studies directly comparing adult-and childhood-onset SLE, it has been suggested that pediatric lupus patients have a more aggressive disease course and an increased rate of more unusual initial clinical presentations compared with adults. Also differences in the serological and autoantibody profiles of children an