RESUMEN
Objective To investigate the relationship between NP involvement and clinical factors and the potential predictors for NPSLE in children. Methods Sixty-two Chinese children with SLE diagnosed between 1990 and 2006 were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical characteristics and potential predictors for NPSLE were analyzed in patients with NP vs those without NP, early-onset NP vs late-onset NP, SLE-onset vs NP-onset in late-onset NP group. Results Ratio of lupus nephritis(LN) at SLE onset was less common in patients with NP disorders than those without NP; the mean age for the early-onset group was significantly younger and the SLEDAI score was higher than those of late-onset group. There was no difference in all the clinical and serological factors for SLE-onset vs NP-onset in the late-onset NPSLE group. Conclusion NP development is negatively associated with renal involvement at SLE diagnosis. Early-onset NPSLE usually happens in young patients with high disease activity scores. There are no clinical factors that can predict the development of NPSLE.