Curative effect and follow-up analysis of 15 children with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus treated with Belimumab / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

Objective:To analyze the outcome of 15 cases with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) treated with Belimumab, and evaluate the safety and efficacy of the therapy.Methods:A retrospective and real-world clinical research method was adopted.Fifteen children with confirmed refractory SLE and complete follow-up data were selected from the Department of Rheumatology, Beijing Children′s Hospital from April 1, 2020 to March 31, 2022.By comparing the changes of clinical symptoms, auxiliary examination results, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI-2000) and Physician′s Global Assessment (PGA) scores as well as adverse events in different treatment periods (before treatment, 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 6 months and 12 months after treatment), the safety and effectiveness of Belimumab treatment were all recorded.The counting data was expressed in percentage, the measurement data meeting the normal distribution was expressed in Mean±SD, and the two samples of measurement data were compared by t-test, P<0.05 means significant differences. Results:The ratio of male to female was 3∶2, and the onset age was (7.93±4.99) years; The basic treatment time was 4 months to 5 years and 1 month.There were 8 cases with lupus nephritis (LN), 2 cases suffering from hypocomplementemia for more than 1 year, 2 cases with central nervous system involvements, 2 cases complicated with antiphospholipid syndrome and 1 case with early-onset SLE.Of 8 LN cases, 1 case was complicated with neuropsychiatric lupus (NPLE) and distal femoral head infarction of both knees, and 3 cases were complicated with lumbar compression fractures and hip infarction.All patients were treated with regular traditional therapy to induce remission.During the maintenance period, the disease activity maintained at light to moderate levels, and it was difficult to reduce glucocorticoid.At baseline, SLEDAI-2000 score was 4-13, and PGA score was 1-2.50.Basic treatment includes glucocorticoids combined with immunosuppressants (Cyclosporine, Mycophenolate Mofetil, Leflunomide tablets) and antimalarial drugs, and Cyclophosphamide and/or Tripterygium Wilfordii were used at the same time according to the damage of target organs.The drug safety after intravenous injection of Belizumab showed that one patient in this group had respiratory tract infection symptoms 4 weeks after treatment; Another patient had a slight increase of alanine aminotransferase 8 weeks after treatment, and recovered to normal symptomatic treatment.No drug-related adverse reactions were found in the other 13 patients.After 4 weeks of treatment, the score of SLEDAI-2000 and PGA compared with the baseline level, and the difference was statistically significant (SLEDAI-2000 P=0.002; PGA P=0.006). There was no clinical recurrence.One patient with familial chilblain like lupus erythematosus showed significant improvement in rash 2 weeks after treatment, and low fever accompanied by increased rash 8 weeks after treatment; After 16 weeks of treatment, the body temperature was normal and the rash basically subsided. Conclusions:Belimumab is clinically effective in the treatment of refractory childhood SLE, with no serious adverse events reported.However, its long-term efficacy and safety need to be further studied by multi-center and long-term research with a large sample size.

Piomiosite no lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil / Pyomyositis in childhood-systemic lupus erythematosus

Resumo A piomiosite é uma infecção piogênica da musculatura esquelética, decorrente da disseminação hematogênica e geralmente acompanhada de formação de abscesso localizado. Esta infecção da musculatura é raramente descrita em adultos com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES) e, até onde se sabe, ainda não o foi em pacientes com LES juvenil (LESJ). De nossos 289 pacientes com LESJ, uma apresentou piomiosite. Diagnosticada com LESJ aos 10 anos de idade e após seis anos de tratamento com prednisona, azatioprina e hidroxicloroquina, a paciente foi hospitalizada em razão de um histórico de 30 dias de dor insidiosa na coxa esquerda, sem relato algum de trauma aparente ou febre. O exame físico mostrou músculos sensíveis e com endurecimento lenhoso. Os exames laboratoriais revelaram anemia, aumento de reagentes de fase aguda e enzimas musculares normais. A tomografia computadorizada da coxa esquerda mostrou coleção no terço médio do vasto intermédio, sugerindo estágio purulento de piomiosite. Iniciou-se tratamento com antibiótico de largo espectro, que levou à resolução clínica completa. Em suma, descreveu-se o primeiro caso de piomiosite em pacientes com LESJ encontrado neste serviço. Este relato reforça que a presença de dor muscular localizada em pacientes imunocomprometidos, ainda que sem aumento de enzimas musculares, deve sugerir o diagnóstico de piomiosite. Recomenda-se tratamento imediato com antibióticos.

Abstract Pyomyositis is a pyogenic infection of skeletal muscle that arises from hematogenous spread and usually presents with localized abscess. This muscle infection has been rarely reported in adult-onset systemic lupus erythematous and, to the best of our knowledge, has not been diagnosed in pediatric lupus population. Among our childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematous population, including 289 patients, one presented pyomyositis. This patient was diagnosed with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematous at the age of 10 years-old. After six years, while being treated with prednisone, azathioprine and hydroxychloroquine, she was hospitalized due to a 30-day history of insidious pain in the left thigh and no apparent trauma or fever were reported. Her physical examination showed muscle tenderness and woody induration. Laboratory tests revealed anemia, increased acute phase reactants and normal muscle enzymes. Computer tomography of the left thigh showed collection on the middle third of the vastus intermedius, suggesting purulent stage of pyomyositis. Treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotic was initiated, leading to a complete clinical resolution. In conclusion, we described the first case of pyomyositis during childhood in pediatric lupus population. This report reinforces that the presence of localized muscle pain in immunocompromised patients, even without elevation of muscle enzymes, should raise the suspicion of pyomyositis. A prompt antibiotic therapy is strongly recommended.

Doença de Kikuchi-Fujimoto antes do diagnóstico de lúpus eritematoso sistêmico juvenil / Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease prior to childhood-systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosis

A doença de Kikuchi-Fujimoto (DKF) é uma linfadenite necrosante histiocítica autolimitante de origem desconhecida. É digno de nota que a DKF era apenas pouco frequentemente comunicada em pacientes com lúpus eritematoso sistêmico (LES), com rara ocorrência em pacientes com LES juvenil (LESJ). Até onde vai nosso conhecimento, ainda não foi estudada a prevalência de DKF na população pediátrica lúpica. Assim, em um período de 29 anos consecutivos, 5.682 pacientes foram acompanhados em nossa instituição e 289 (5%) satisfaziam os critérios de classificação do American College of Rheumatology para LES; um sofria DKF isolado (0,03%) e apenas um padecia de DKF associada a diagnósticos de LESJ; este caso foi descrito no presente artigo. Uma jovem com 12 anos de idade apresentava-se com febre alta, fadiga e linfadenopatia cervical e axilar. Os anticorpos antinucleares (ANA) estavam negativos, com imunologia positiva para IgM e IgG antivírus do herpes simples tipos 1 e 2. As imagens obtidas por tomografia por emissão de pósitrons com flúor-18-fluoro-desoxi-glicose/tomografia computadorizada (PET/TC) demonstraram linfadenopatia difusa. A biópsia dos linfonodos axilares demonstrou linfadenite necrosante com presença de histiócitos, sem doença linfoproliferativa, compatível com DKF. Transcorridos 30 dias, a paciente apresentou regressão espontânea, não havendo necessidade de tratamento. Nove meses depois, a paciente exibia erupção malar, fotossensibilidade, úlceras orais, linfopenia e ANA 1:320 (padrão nuclear homogêneo). Nessa ocasião, a aplicação do Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) (Índice de Atividade de Doença/LES 2000) teve um escore igual a 10, e a jovem foi tratada com prednisona (1,0 mg/kg/dia) e hidroxicloroquina, demonstrando melhora progressiva dos sinais e sintomas. Em conclusão, DKF é doença benigna e rara em nossa população lúpica pediátrica. Também queremos enfatizar a relevância do diagnóstico de doenças autoimunes durante o acompanhamento de pacientes com DKF.

Kikuchi-Fujimoto disease (KFD) is a self-limiting histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis of unknown origin. Of note, KFD was infrequently reported in adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with rare occurrence in childhood-SLE (C-SLE) patients. To our knowledge, the prevalence of KFD in the paediatric lupus population was not studied. Therefore, in a period of 29 consecutive years, 5,682 patients were followed at our institution and 289 (5%) met the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for SLE, one had isolated KFD (0.03) and only one had KFD associated to C-SLE diagnoses, which case was reported herein. A 12 year-old female patient had high fever, fatigue and cervical and axillary lymphadenopathy. The antinuclear antibodies (ANA) were negative, with positive IgM and IgG herpes simplex virus type 1 and type 2 serologies. Fluorine-18-fluoro-deoxy-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) imaging demonstrated diffuse lymphadenopathy. The axillary lymph node biopsy showed necrotizing lymphadenitis with histiocytes, without lymphoproliferative disease, compatible with KFD. After 30 days, she presented spontaneous regression and no therapy was required. Nine months later, she developed malar rash, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, lymphopenia and ANA 1:320 (homogeneous nuclear pattern). At that moment the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score was 10 and she was treated with prednisone (1.0 mg/kg/day) and hidroxychloroquine showing progressive improvement of hers signs and symptoms. In conclusion, KFD is a benign and rare disease in our paediatric lupus population. We also would like to reinforce the relevance of autoimmune diseases diagnosis during the follow-up of patients with KFD.

A Clinico-pathologic Study of Childhood Lupus Nephritis

PURPOSE: Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is a disease of immunologic origin, affecting multiple organs including joints, skin, kidneys, nervous system, heart and blood, with rare involvement of gut and liver. The incidence of renal disease in children with SLE was approximately 70 percent and tended to be more severe than in adults. Accordingly we have retrospectively studied on the prognostic indicators. METHODS: We investigated clinical manifestations, laboratory findings and renal biopsy findings of 14 cases of childhood lupus nephritis. RESULTS: A review of the clinical and pathological findings revealed as follows : male to female ratio was 1 : 6, immunologic laboratory findings showed, positive rates of anti-ds DNA antibody which was 57%, FANA 85%. The incidence of decreased C3 and C4 was 57%. The most common clinical features were fever(92%) and malar rash(21%). Renal biopsies were performed with the following results. There were 3 cases of mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, 1 case of focal and segmental proliferative glomerulonephritis, 9 cases of diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, and 1 of membranous glomerulonephritis. During the follow-up period, 3 patients with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis expired due to renal failure and pulmonary edema. CONCLUSION: When lupus nephritis is suspected, renal biopsy, tests for antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-ds-DNA, and complement profile should be performed. Early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent rapid deterioration of renal function and improve long-term survival. Renal biopsy in lupus nephritis is of considerable value to both choice of therapy and predicting prognosis.