Serum interleukin-17 levels are associated with nephritis in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVES: To determine the serum interleukin-17 (IL-17) levels in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients and to evaluate the association between IL-17 and clinical manifestations, disease activity, laboratory findings and treatment. METHODS: We included 67 consecutive childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients [61 women; median age 18 years (range 11-31)], 55 first-degree relatives [50 women; median age 40 years (range 29-52)] and 47 age- and sex-matched healthy controls [42 women; median age 19 years (range 6-30)]. The childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients were assessed for clinical and laboratory systemic lupus erythematosus manifestations, disease activity [Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)], cumulative damage [Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Damage Index] and current drug use. Serum IL-17 levels were measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using commercial kits. RESULTS: The median serum IL-17 level was 36.3 (range 17.36-105.92) pg/mL in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients and 29.47 (15.16-62.17) pg/mL in healthy controls (p=0.009). We observed an association between serum IL-17 levels and active nephritis (p=0.01) and migraines (p=0.03). Serum IL-17 levels were not associated with disease activity (p=0.32), cumulative damage (p=0.34), or medication use (p=0.63). CONCLUSION: IL-17 is increased in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and may play a role in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric and renal manifestations. Longitudinal studies are necessary to determine the role of IL-17 in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus. .

Síndrome metabólica e composição corporal nos pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil / Metabolic syndrome and body composition in patients with childhood on set systemic lupus erythematosus

Lupus Eritematoso Sistêmico (LES) e uma doença autoimune, crônica e mutissistemica, caracterizada por períodos de atividade e remissão. Anormalidades como leucopenia, anemia hemolítica, presença de auto-anticorpos como anti-DNA de fita dupla (anti-dsDNA), anti-Smith (anti-Sm) e fator antinuclear (FAN) podem ser encontradas. Quando diagnosticado ate os 16 anos de idade e denominado LESj. Devido ao elevado acometimeto cardíaco nesses pacientes e muito importante avaliar os fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de doenças coronarianas. O presente estudo, de característica transversal, teve como objetivo avaliar a presença de SM nos pacientes com LESj e comparar com controles sem histórico de doença autoimune e cardiovasculares e avaliar a composição corporal e observar a associação com a atividade e dano da doença, uso de corticosteróides e TNF-?. Foram selecionados pacientes consecutivos com LESj acompanhados na Unidade de Reumatologia Pediátrica da UNICAMP entre 2010/2012. Manifestações clinicas, laboratoriais e medicação em uso foram avaliadas. A atividade da doença [SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)], dano cumulativo [Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC)] foi determinado para cada paciente no dia da coleta de sangue. A SM foi avaliada através do critério da IDF - International diabetes federation. A dosagem da citocina foi realizada por ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay). Observamos uma prevalência de SM de aproximadamente 20% dos pacientes incluídos. Observamos um numero similar de pacientes com LES <18 anos com síndrome metabólica quando comparada com ? 18 anos de idade (p = 0,202).

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, multisystemic, relapsing and remitting autoimmune disease. Abnormalities such as leukopenia, hemolytic anemia, presence of autoantibodies such as anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), anti-Smith (anti-Sm) and antinuclear antibodies (ANA) can be found. When the diagnosis was made until 16 years old the patients was called childhood-onset SLE. Because of the greatest rate of cardiac involvement of these patients is very important to evaluate the risk factors to coronary diseases development The present cross-sectional study aimed to evaluate the presence of MetS in SLE patients and to compare with controls without autoimmune disease history and to evaluate the body composition and observe its association with the activity disease, laboratory data and corticosteroid treatment and TNF-?. We selected consecutive pediatric SLE patients followed at the Pediatric Rheumatology Unit of UNICAMP between 2010/2012. Clinical, laboratory, disease activity [SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)], cumulative damage [Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics / American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI)] and current drug exposure were evaluated. The MetS was evaluated by IDF - International diabetes federation criteria. The measurement of cytokines was performed by ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay). The prevalence of MetS in approximately 20% of patients included. We observed a similar number of SLE patients <18 years with MetS compared with ? 18 years of age (p = 0.202). We found that SLE patients <18 years presented with hypertriglyceridemia and patients ? 18 years were more frequently hypercholesterolemia, high LDL-C and hypertriglyceridemia observed correlation of SLEDAI adjusted over time with the definition of the IDF in SLE patients ? 18 years (r = 0.229, p = 0.033). We also observed a higher ratio HC / WC procedures in patients with SLE compared to the control group (p <0.001).

Clinical and serological manifestations associated with interferon-α levels in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: To determine the serum levels of interferon alpha in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients, their first-degree relatives and healthy controls and to evaluate the associations between serum interferon alpha and disease activity, laboratory findings and treatment features. METHODS: We screened consecutive childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients in a longitudinal cohort at the pediatric rheumatology unit of the State University of Campinas between 2009 and 2010. All patients demonstrated disease onset before the age of 16. Disease status was assessed according to the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics/American College of Rheumatology Damage Index (SDI). Interferon alpha levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunoabsorbent assay. RESULTS: We included 57 childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients (mean age 17.33±4.50), 64 firstdegree relatives (mean age 39.95±5.66), and 57 healthy (mean age 19.30±4.97) controls. Serum interferon alpha levels were significantly increased in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients compared to their firstdegree relatives and healthy controls. Interferon alpha levels were significantly increased in patients with positive dsDNA antibodies, patients with cutaneous vasculitis, patients with new malar rash and patients who were not receiving medication. Interferon alpha levels correlated with C3 levels and systemic lupus erythematosus Disease Activity Index scores. In addition, we observed an inverse correlation between patient age and interferon alpha levels. CONCLUSION: Interferon alpha may play a role in the pathogenesis of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus, especially in cutaneous manifestations and dsDNA antibody formation. The observation that interferon alpha levels are increased in patients who are not taking medication should be investigated in longitudinal studies to determine whether elevated interferon alpha levels may predict systemic lupus erythematosus flares.