Copy For Citation
Kisaoglu H., Sener S., Demirbas K. C., Demir Yigit Y., GARİPÇİN P., Coskun S., ...More
RHEUMATOLOGY, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
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Publication Type:
Article / Article
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Publication Date:
2024
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Doi Number:
10.1093/rheumatology/keae414
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Journal Name:
RHEUMATOLOGY
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Journal Indexes:
Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Academic Search Premier, BIOSIS, CINAHL, International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, MEDLINE
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Kocaeli University Affiliated:
Yes
Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the severe haematological involvement in children with SLE and assess its clinical associations, treatments, outcome and damage accrual. Methods: The medical charts of children with SLE in whom haematological involvement was observed were reviewed. Severe haematological indices were defined as autoimmune haemolytic anaemia with a haemoglobin concentration <8 g/dl, thrombocyte count <30 000/mu L and neutrophil count <500/L. Results: Among the 224 patients included, 102 (45.5%) displayed severe indices, predominantly at the initial involvement, and most frequently as severe anaemia in 54 (24.1%) and severe thrombocytopenia in 45 (20.1%). Disease activity did not differ according to the presence of severe disease indices. In addition, the presence of severe indices at initial involvement did not affect the damage accrual. However, a higher rate of damage (51.1% vs 29.9%, P = 0.002) and steroid-induced damage (28.9% vs 8.2%, P < 0.001) was evident in patients with flares of the haematological system. Regression analysis revealed that rituximab treatment during the initial episode (OR: 4.5, P = 0.006) and the presence of anticardiolipin antibodies (OR: 2.3, P = 0.014) significantly increases the odds for haematological system flare. However, severe indices at initial involvement did not increase the odds of a haematological flare. Conclusion: Severe haematological indices at onset are common but not related with disease outcomes. Prevention of flares is important to improve outcomes, and a more rigorous maintenance strategy would benefit most to children who display haematological indices refractory to conventional immunosuppressants and those with anti-cardiolipin antibodies.