The findings illustrate a similar pattern of predominant clinical manifestations and severe disease phenotype as reported from other JSLE cohorts, and the disease-related damage over a relatively short follow-up period is "likely to have significant long-lasting physical and or psychosocial impact and consequences," the investigators wrote.
"Determining the effect of lupus-associated damage on the developing child requires large, prospective long-term studies, together with improved disease biomarkers, to assess the true physical and psychosocial impact of this condition," Dr. Watson and her associates said.
This study was supported by Lupus UK, private benefactors, and the Alder Hey Children’s Kidney Fund. The investigators had no conflicts of interest to declare.