An 8-year-old child has just been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The parents wonder what the child's prognosis is going to be. Which of the following findings would be considered a good prognostic indicator of the extent/seriousness of the disease?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The clinical manifestations of SLE in children reflect the extent and severity of systemic involvement. The best prognostic indicator in children is the extent of renal involvement, which is more common and more severe in children than in adults with SLE. Edema and rusty or bloody urine are classic signs of glomerulonephritis. It is expected that people/children with SLE have arthralgias/arthritis in joints, sore ligaments and tendons, as well as integumentary signs and symptoms like a rash on the nose and cheeks (butterfly rash).

An 8-Year-Old Child Has Just Been Diagnosed with Systemic Lupus