Discoid lupus erythematosus in children--a retrospective study of 34 patients

A New Case of Paediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus with Onset after SARS-CoV-2 and Epstein-Barr Infection-A Case Report and Literature Review

Viral infections caused by exposure to viruses such as Epstein-Barr, cytomegalovirus, or Parvovirus B19 have always been considered predisposing environmental factors for the onset of autoimmune diseases. More recently, autoimmune mechanisms such as molecular mimicry, T-cell activation, transient immunosuppression and inflammation have also been observed in cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Several newly diagnosed autoimmune disorders have been reported post-COVID-19, such as COVID-19-associated multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), type 1 diabetes mellitus, systemic lupus erythematosus, or rheumatoid arthritis. In this article, we present a new case of paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with haematological (macrophage activation syndrome), renal (stage 2), cutaneous (urticarial vasculitis) and digestive involvement, onset three and a half months post-COVID-19. In the dynamics, de novo infection generated by Epstein-Barr exposure was associated. The diagnosis was confirmed based on EULAR/ACR 2019 criteria. The aim of the article is to present a possible correlation between SARS-CoV-2 and Epstein-Barr as extrinsic factors in triggering or activating paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus. Keywords: paediatric systemic lupus erythematosus; post-COVID-19; Epstein-Barr; SARS- CoV-2; case report; paediatric patient.

Cross-Sectional Characteristics of Pediatric-Onset Discoid Lupus Erythematosus: Results of a Multicenter, Retrospective Cohort Study

• Discoid lupus may be associated with SLE. In this study, most children with discoid lupus did not have systemic disease. Concurrent SLE was highest in female adolescents (>10 years of age) with generalized discoid lupus, who had clinically aggressive disease. • Discoid lupus in adolescence should prompt thorough evaluation for SLE.

Review article: Emerging issues in pediatric skin of color, part 1

Dermatology for the pediatric skin of color population is the application of dermatology to the genetically diverse and distinctive segment of the pediatric population that includes children of non-White racial and ethnic groups with increased pigmentation including individuals of Asian, LatinX, African, Native American, Pacific Island descent, Indigenous Peoples, among others, with overlap in particular individuals, and mixtures thereof. Treating children of color is a unique skill set within the field of pediatric dermatology, requiring knowledge and sensitivity. The discipline of pediatric skin of color can be challenging. Difficulty in diagnosis of common conditions stems from underlying pigmentation, variations in common hairstyling practices, and differences in demographics of cutaneous disease, whereas some conditions are more common in children of color, other conditions have nuances in clinical appearance and/or therapeutics with regard to skin color. This article is the first in a series of two articles looking at recently published skin-related issues of high concern in children of color. Conditions reviewed in Part 1 include (1) hairstyling hair-related concerns (traction alopecia, central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, endocrine disruption), (2) autoimmune concerns (cutaneous lupus, vitiligo), and (3) infections (tinea capitis, progressive macular hypomelanosis).

Pediatric discoid lupus erythematosus: Short report

Pediatric discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a rare inflammatory skin disorder. This article aims to review all the available clinical and therapeutic data on reported cases of pediatric DLE. A systematic review of the literature was conducted using Pubmed and Embase with no limitation on publication date, sex, or nationality. Thirty-two articles were included with 201 cases, a mean age of 8.9 years (2 months-16 years) and an F:M ratio of 1.8. Lesions were located on the head and neck in 58.5% and were disseminated in 36.5% of the cases. Associated symptoms were pruritus (10.1%) and alopecia (8.7%). 12% progressed to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 14.5% had concurrent SLE. The only statistically significant predictor for progression to SLE was the onset of symptoms before or at the age of 10 years (p = 0.004). Treatments consisted mainly of sunscreens (26.3%), topical corticosteroids (24.3%), and oral antimalarials (25.3%). Retrospective nature of the included studies, small sample size, short duration of follow-up and limited data on the patients' demographics. Pediatric DLE affects mostly the head and neck, with a female predominance, a possible association with inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, and overall good treatment response and prognosis.

Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in Children

BACKGROUND

The skin is commonly involved in autoimmune diseases, such as lupus erythematous. The cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) can manifest with or without systemic symptoms. It is advantageous from a patient and healthcare system standpoint for early diagnosis and intervention. Prevention of complications is especially important in the pediatric population.

OBJECTIVE

To familiarize physicians with the clinical presentation, diagnosis, evaluation, and management of pediatric cutaneous lupus.

METHODS

The search term "cutaneous lupus" was entered into a Pubmed search. A narrow scope was applied to the categories of "epidemiology", "clinical diagnosis", "investigations", "comorbidities", and "treatment". Meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials, clinical trials, observational studies, and reviews were included. The search was restricted to English literature and children. A descriptive, narrative synthesis of the retrieved articles was provided.

RESULTS

A variety of innate and adaptive immune responses are being investigated to explain the pathogenesis of CLE. There are a number of variations of cutaneous manifestations varying from localized malar rash as in the case of ACLE lesions and papulosquamous psoriasiform lesions as in the case of SCLE to the multiple subtypes within chronic CLE. First-line pharmacological treatments include topicals, such as typical calcineurin inhibitors and corticosteroids, or oral agents, such as glucocorticoids, antimalarial drugs, and hydroxychloroquine.

CONCLUSION

CLE is inclusive of a number of subtypes that have varying dermatological manifestations in adult and pediatric populations. The current treatment modalities will change based on the newly understood molecular targets. Ongoing research on the mechanisms underlying CLE is necessary to derive new interventions for pediatric patients.

New insights into the progression from cutaneous lupus to systemic lupus erythematosus

INTRODUCTION

Between 5 and 25% of patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) can progress to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during the course of the disease. There is no clear predictive guideline for the progression of CLE to SLE.

AREAS COVERED

Lupus erythematosus (LE), a chronic autoimmune disease, has a wide spectrum of manifestations. On one side of the spectrum is CLE, in which patients only display skin lesions. On the other side of the spectrum is SLE, which develops severe systemic involvement. CLE has even been considered as a separate entity from LE, while CLE is also proposed to be associated with SLE. In this review, the authors will describe the relationship between CLE and SLE; summarize the incidence, risk factors, systemic involvement, and management of patients who transition to SLE. The literature search was conducted mainly through PubMed from March to July 2020.

EXPERT OPINION

The identification of clinical characteristics and biomarkers in patients facing risk of developing SLE and monitoring the disease on a regular basis are essential to promptly manage and hopefully prevent transition to the systemic form.

Cutaneous manifestations of pediatric lupus

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review recent evidence on cutaneous manifestations of lupus, with a focus on evidence for pediatric patients.

RECENT FINDINGS

Cutaneous manifestations of SLE are common and may precede signs or symptoms of systemic disease. Early recognition and initiation of therapy improves quality of life by reducing cutaneous disease activity. Antimalarials are first line for moderate-to-severe disease. Photo protection is a critical component of therapy and perhaps the only modifiable risk factor for SLE. Recognition of cutaneous vasculopathy may reduce mortality from vascular occlusion.

SUMMARY

There is a critical need for better understanding of pathogenesis, risk factors and outcomes in cutaneous lupus to determine optimal treatment and surveillance strategies. Correlation of clinical phenotypes with biomarkers may help to stratify patients, optimize targeted interventions, and influence prognosis.

Practice-based differences in paediatric discoid lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Children with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) are at risk for disfigurement and progression to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Consensus is lacking regarding optimal care for children with DLE.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to compare practice patterns among paediatric dermatologists/rheumatologists treating paediatric DLE.

METHODS

An online survey was sent to 292 paediatric rheumatologists in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance and 200 paediatric dermatologists in the Pediatric Dermatology Research Alliance. Consensus was defined as ≥ 70% agreement.

RESULTS

Survey response rates were 38% (76 of 200) for dermatology and 21% (60 of 292) for rheumatology. Both specialties agreed that screening labs should include complete blood counts with differential, urinalysis, complement levels, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, antinuclear antibody and other autoantibodies, hepatic function and renal function/electrolytes. Both specialties agreed that arthritis or nephritis should prompt intensified evaluation for SLE. No other patient features achieved consensus as disease-modifying risk factors. Hydroxychloroquine was agreed upon as first-line systemic therapy, but consensus was lacking for second- or third-line treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

We found few areas of consensus and significant practice differences between paediatric dermatologists and rheumatologists treating DLE. Knowledge gaps include risk factors for SLE, optimal screening and treatment of refractory skin disease.

Clinic experience in discoid lupus erythematosus: a retrospective study of 132 cases

Introduction

Lupus erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by a broad range of cutaneous manifestations. Discoid LE (DLE) is the most common chronic manifestation of LE. Literature reviews show that there are a limited number of large-series studies investigating DLE. Additionally, there is still no consensus on the etiological factors of DLE such as sun exposure and smoking.

Aim

To evaluate the clinical and demographic characteristics of patients with DLE.

Material and methods

The study included patients who were hospitalized in the inpatient and outpatient clinics at the Dermatology Department. Age, gender, treatment method, history of smoking, antinuclear antibody positivity, progression to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), photosensitivity, and laboratory findings were recorded for each patient.

Results

The study included 132 patients comprising 67 (50.8%) men and 65 (49.2%) women. A family history was found in 3.8%, SLE was detected in 5.3%, and photosensitivity was revealed in 50.0% of the patients. ANA positivity was found in 23.7%, a history of smoking was revealed in 61.4%, and chronic sun exposure was detected in 42.4% of the patients.

Conclusions

Discoid LE, though identified long ago, remains unelucidated and there are very few studies in the literature reporting on DLE. The results indicated that smoking and chronic UV exposure are important risk factors for DLE. Moreover, although ANA positivity was high in our patients, the rate of progression to SLE was remarkably low. The results also showed that, contrary to common belief, there is no female preponderance in DLE.

Autoimmune collagen vascular diseases: Kids are not just little people

Morphea, dermatomyositis (DM), and discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) are autoimmune collagen vascular diseases that can present at any age. In all three of these diseases, the tenants of diagnosis and treatment are largely the same in both children and adults, with a few notable differences. Children with morphea are more likely to present with the linear subtype and have a higher incidence of extracutaneous manifestations. Children often need early aggressive systemic treatment to try to prevent long-term sequelae of morphea. In DM, adult disease has a clear association with malignancy that is not seen in children. Adults have a higher rate of pulmonary involvement and increased mortality, whereas calcinosis is more common in juvenile DM. DLE in adults is generally considered to have a low rate of progression from discoid lesions alone to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). DLE is less common in children, but several studies have suggested a higher rate of progression from DLE to SLE in children compared with adults.

Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in Children: Experience from a Tertiary Care Pediatric Dermatology Clinic

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

The manifestations of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and their relevance to systemic disease are well characterized in adults, but data are limited in children. The objective of the current study was to examine the spectrum of CLE and its relationship to systemic disease in children from a tertiary care pediatric dermatology clinic.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An analysis of 26 children with CLE registered consecutively over 14 years was performed.

RESULTS

Ninety-six percent of the patients were of Arab ethnicity. They included seven (27%) cases with neonatal lupus erythematosus (LE) (71% females and 29% males). Of the other 19 children with CLE, 95% were female. The mean and median age at diagnosis was 11 years. Eighty-nine percent of the patients fulfilled the criteria for systemic LE. All patients had LE-specific lesions and 83% had LE-nonspecific manifestations. Atypical initial presentations were recorded in 28% of the patients, and 22% of the patients had the rare LE variants. Of the LE-specific manifestations, acute CLE was seen in 83%, subacute in 44%, and chronic in 22%. Autoimmune associations were recorded in 44% and a positive family history of autoimmune diseases in 61%.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights a striking female predominance, higher risk of systemic disease in children presenting with CLE, higher prevalence of atypical presentation and rare CLE variants, and underrepresentation of discoid LE in children and signifies the need for more surveys to delineate the spectrum of pediatric CLE in different parts of the world.

Blistering Disorders in Children

Bullous disorders in children are challenging as they encompass a wide range of entities. The etiologies range from inherited to acquired disorders. Some of the more common acquired forms include allergic reactions, infections, autoimmune-mediated conditions, and toxin-mediated conditions. Some eruptions are self-limited, whereas others can be life-threatening. Obtaining a careful history, performing a detailed morphologic examination, recognizing when a skin scraping, biopsy, or culture is indicated, and having an understanding of the associated pathophysiology allows one to narrow the differential and ultimately arrive at the correct diagnosis. This review discusses the more commonly acquired bullous eruptions and how to differentiate them.

Review of the cutaneous manifestations of autoimmune connective tissue diseases in pediatric patients

Autoimmune connective tissue diseases are chronic inflammatory disorders associated with complex genetic and environmental interplay resulting in a variety of cutaneous and systemic manifestations. Pediatric onset of these disorders carries a unique diagnostic pressure for the clinician due to the potential years of disease burden and complications. Mortality and morbidity from these disorders has fallen dramatically over the past fifty years due to increasing awareness of these disease sequelae and utilization of systemic treatment modalities when necessary. This review highlights the clinical features that are unique to pediatric presentations of lupus erythematosus, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile dermatomyositis, juvenile onset systemic sclerosis and morphea. Each of these disorders has a distinct appearance corresponding to a particular cutaneous and systemic clinical course and prognosis. Awareness of the associated potential systemic complications can also alert the clinician to make astute management decisions when confronted with a probable rheumatologic case. Cutaneous symptoms may predate onset of systemic symptoms and by keeping the rheumatologic differential diagnoses in mind, the dermatologist can play a key role in potentially offsetting autoimmune disease burden in children.

The natural history of pediatric-onset discoid lupus erythematosus

BACKGROUND

Pediatric discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is rare. The risk of progression to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is uncertain.

OBJECTIVE

We sought to determine the risk of progression of pediatric DLE to SLE and to characterize its phenotype.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of 40 patients with DLE.

RESULTS

Six (15%) of 40 patients presented with DLE as a manifestation of concurrent SLE. Of the remaining 34, 9 (26%) eventually met SLE criteria and 15 (44%) developed laboratory abnormalities without meeting SLE criteria. Only 10 (29%) maintained skin-limited disease. The average age at progression to SLE was 11 years, with greatest risk in the first year after DLE diagnosis. Most (89%) patients with SLE met diagnostic criteria with mucocutaneous disease (discoid lesions, malar rash, oral and nasal ulcers, photosensitivity), positive antibodies, and/or cytopenia without developing end-organ damage over 5 years of median follow-up.

LIMITATIONS

The study was retrospective.

CONCLUSIONS

In pediatric patients, DLE carries a significant risk of progression to SLE but may predict a milder phenotype of systemic disease. All patients require careful monitoring for SLE, particularly within the first year of diagnosis.

Mucocutaneous manifestations in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a review of literature

Patients diagnosed with juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) often have skin and oral lesions as part of their presentation. These mucocutaneous lesions, as defined by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in 1997, include malar rash, discoid rash, photosensitivity and oral ulcers. It is therefore essential to recognize mucocutaneous lesions to accurately diagnose JSLE. The mucocutaneous lesions can be divided into those with classical histological features (LE specific) and those strongly associated with and forming part of the diagnostic spectrum, but without the classical histological changes of lupus (LE nonspecific). A malar rash is the most commonly associated LE specific dermatological presentation. This skin manifestation is an acute form and also correlates with disease activity. Subacute (polycyclic or papulosquamous lesions) and chronic (discoid lesions) forms, whilst showing classical histological changes supportive of lupus, are less commonly associated with systemic lupus and do not correlate with disease activity. The most commonly associated skin lesions without classical lupus changes are cutaneous vasculitis, oral ulcers and diffuse non-scarring alopecia. These signs frequently relate to disease activity. An understanding of cutaneous signs and symptoms of lupus in children is important to avoid delay in diagnosis. They will often improve as lupus is adequately controlled and their reappearance is often the first indicator of a disease flare.

Demographic and clinical characteristics of cutaneous lupus erythematosus at a paediatric dermatology referral centre

BACKGROUND

Paediatric cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) is uncommon and inadequately described in the literature. Similar to adults, children with CLE develop LE-specific and/or LE-nonspecific skin findings. Similarities and differences in demographics and clinical course between paediatric and adult CLE have not been sufficiently described.

OBJECTIVES

To detail the demographic and clinical features of paediatric CLE and compare these findings with those reported in the adult literature.

METHODS

A retrospective chart review was performed of 53 children seen in a paediatric dermatology clinic with cutaneous manifestations of LE.

RESULTS

Patients presented with all five major subtypes of CLE, with some notable differences from adult CLE and previously published reports of paediatric CLE. Progression from discoid LE to systemic LE (SLE) did not occur in our cohort. Patients with subacute CLE were more likely than adults to have lesions below the waist as well as concomitant SLE. Sex distribution for CLE in our study was equal prior to puberty and female predominant in post-pubertal patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with CLE have variable clinical presentations and progression to SLE that may be different from adult disease. Specifically, children with acute and subacute CLE may be more likely than adults to have systemic disease; therefore, patients with these subtypes should be monitored closely for evidence of SLE. Study limitations included small patient numbers that may limit the ability to generalize these data and relatively short follow-up intervals.

Current treatment strategies: collagen vascular diseases in children

Of the various collagen vascular diseases seen in pediatric age group, discoid lupus erythematosus, systemic lupus erythematosus, neonatal lupus erythematosus, juvenile dermatomyositis and childhood scleroderma are common and of practical importance to clinicians. Various treatment modalities of these conditions have been discussed at length. Of these, some are conventional and routine,while others are used in challenging situations of these diseases. Autologous stem cell transplant, biological therapies, intravenous immunoglobulin and narrow band ultraviolet B are among the latest therapeutic options for these difficult-to-treat conditions in children.

Assessment of the 'no eosinophils' rule: are eosinophils truly absent in pityriasis lichenoides, connective tissue disease, and graft-vs.-host disease?

Eosinophils are often present in the inflammatory infiltrate of an interface dermatitis, but the diagnostic specificity of eosinophils in interface dermatitis has not been formally evaluated. We retrospectively identified 97 examples of interface dermatitis with clinically confirmed diagnoses, including lupus erythematosus (LE), lichen planus, pityriasis lichenoides (PL), graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD), dermatomyositis (DM) and drug reaction. Diagnoses were clinically confirmed by at least two dermatologists. Slides were reviewed in a blinded fashion by at least two dermatopathologists. The average eosinophil count per 10 ×200 (×20 objective) fields was lowest for PL (0.2), DM (0.3), GVHD (0.4), and LE (0.5) [defined as Group 1] and was higher for lichen planus, drug reactions, erythema multiforme (major and minor) and viral exanthems [defined as Group 2]. Distinction between Group 1 and Group 2 was maximized using an eosinophil count cutoff of 1.1. In conclusion, eosinophils are usually rare to absent in PL, DM, most forms of LE and GVHD. While final interpretation requires a composite assessment of all features, our results suggest that the presence of even a single eosinophil within nine or ten ×20 fields argues against a diagnosis of PL, DM or LE.

Systemic lupus erythematosus in children and adolescents

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a wide range of disease manifestations that can involve any organ system, and can lead to significant morbidity and even mortality. This article reviews the epidemiology, common clinical features, and complications of the disease, and briefly discusses the available treatment options. In addition, important medical and psychosocial issues relevant to the pediatrician caring for children and adolescents with SLE are discussed.

Pediatric lupus--are there differences in presentation, genetics, response to therapy, and damage accrual compared with adult lupus?

Some complement deficiencies predispose to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) early in life. Currently, there are no known unique physiologic or genetic pathways that can explain the variability in disease phenotypes. Children present with more acute illness and have more frequent renal, hematologic, and central nervous system involvement compared to adults with SLE. Almost all children require corticosteroids during the course of their disease; many are treated with immunosuppressive drugs. Mortality rates remain higher with pediatric SLE. Children and adolescents accrue more damage, especially in the renal, ocular and musculoskeletal organ systems. Conversely, cardiovascular mortality is more prevalent in adults with SLE.

Rheumatic manifestations of skin disease

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

There is an increasing interest in improving the understanding of pathophysiology, outcome measures, and therapies of rheumatic skin disease. Increasingly, studies are using the skin as a primary endpoint for evaluating therapies. This will review the current state of the art for the most common rheumatic skin diseases.

RECENT FINDINGS

A number of medications, including biologics such as tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon, have been associated with onset of cutaneous lupus. The cutaneous lupus erythematosus area and severity index has been further validated and utilized in a number of studies. Smoking continues to be associated both with presence and refractoriness of cutaneous lupus erythematosus to therapy. There are several tools now available for evaluating the skin disease of dermatomyositis, but there is a need for new effective therapies. Measurement of skin disease in scleroderma continues to be a challenge, and there is a need for more effective therapies. Several studies show efficacy of intravenous iloprost for severe Raynaud's and skin ulcers, and of bosentan for digital ulcers.

SUMMARY

The present review covers new outcome measures, treatments, and unusual manifestations of cutaneous lupus, dermatomyositis, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis. There have been a number of new studies related to validation of disease activity measures, as well as their use in evaluation of new therapies for these conditions. Validated outcome measures are required to perform meaningful studies, and will facilitate organized epidemiologic, quality of life, and therapeutic studies.