Epidemiology and management practices for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a survey in Latin America

AbstractTo assess epidemiology and management practices of Latin America Pediatric Rheumatologists (LAPR) about childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). A cross-sectional study was performed in 288 LAPR PANLAR members based on online survey about cSLE practices. The response rate of web-based survey by LAPR was 170/288(59%) and the majority worked in university hospitals (63%). The ACR and/or SLICC classification criteria (99%) and disease activity tools (97%) were almost universally used by LAPR, whereas damage index (70%) and CHAQ (58%) instruments were less frequently used. Laboratory exams, diagnostic imaging, and biopsies were generally available (>  75%), however low availability for densitometry (66%). Drug access was excellent for the most common prescribed medications (>  75%), except for belimumab (11%). Emerging mosquito-borne diseases were also reported: dengue (20%), chikungunya (11%), and Zika (8%). Groups were further divided in two, according to the median number of cSLE patients followed by LAPR in the last year: groups A and B (≥ 25 and<  25, respectively). Frequencies of condom in combination with other contraceptive methods were significantly higher in group A than B (p = 0.01). The frequencies of reported pregnancy (p <  0.001) and non-adherence to therapy were significantly higher in group A (p = 0.023). Alcohol intake (p = 0.004) and illicit drug use (p = 0.007) were also reported more frequently by ...
Source: Clinical Rheumatology - Category: Rheumatology Source Type: research