Clinical characteristics and imaging features of rheumatism-related lung damage in children / 中华实用儿科临床杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the clinical manifestations and imaging features of rheumatism-related lung damages in children in order to improve the understanding of the disease.Methods The clinical data from 16 children hospitalized in provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shangdong University from Sep.2007 to Mar.2012 with rheumatism-related lung damage were analyzed retrospectively and the literature data were reviewed.Results In 16 children with rheumatism-related lung damages,the primary problems included systemic lupus erythematosus in 6 children,juvenile idiopathic arthritis and juvenile dermatomyos in 5 children respectively.Four children (25％) exhibited the respiratory symptoms and 12 children (75.0％) exhibited the subclinical symptoms.Through chest CT,the positive results were showed in all 16 children.Among them,12 children (75.0％) were found to have interstitial lung disease,6 children (37.5％)were found to have lesion of pleura and 5 children (31.3％)to have lung parenchyma lesions.Sixteen children were all treated with glucocorticoid,moreover,14 of them (87.5％)were also given the combination therapy with immunosuppressive agents.Thirteen children(81.3％)exhibited a symptom improvement,3 children died,in which,2 children died of respiratory failure caused by lung damage.Conclusions The clinical manifestations of rheumatismrelated lung damage in children are various and latent with the different severity of condition.It has a higher mortality.The changes through the chest CT are mainly pulmonary interstitial damage and pleurisy,also they are earlier than those in clinic and chest film,thus helping to find earlier lung damage.The early glucocorticoid combined with immunosuppressive therapy is expected to improve the prognosis.