Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Lupus, cilt.33, sa.12, ss.1358-1364, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
Objective: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) constitutes an autoimmune disorder with potential involvement of the
gastrointestinal system (GIS). Our objective was to assess the gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations in patients diagnosed with
childhood onset SLE.
Methods: The study cohort consisted of 123 patients with childhood onset-SLE and GIS involvement from 16 referral
departments of pediatric rheumatology. All participants met the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics criteria.
Results: Out of 123 patients, 78 (63.4%) exhibited GIS involvement at the initial SLE diagnosis, whereas the remaining 45
(36.6%) developed GI symptoms after a median duration of 12 (3–140) months. Eighty-two (66.7%) individuals experienced
symptoms related to the GI tract, whereas the remaining patients received a diagnosis of GI involvement through laboratory
assessments. The predominant initial GIS involvement symptom was abdominal pain, observed in 77 (62.6%)patients, followed by elevated hepatic transaminases in 70 (56.9%), hepatomegaly in 40 (32.5%), diarrhea in 26 (21.1%), and
jaundice in 11 (8.9%) patients. The GIS involvement was associated with SLE in 82 (78.6%), while it resulted from drugrelated
adverse events in 35 (28.5%) patients or comorbidities in 6 (0.5%) patients.
Conclusion: GIS involvement should be considered in all childhood onset-SLE patients, especially in the presence of
suggestive symptoms or elevated hepatic transaminases. It is also crucial to consider SLE in the differential diagnosis of GIS
manifestations in children. Apart from GIS involvement directly associated with SLE, adverse events of drugs should be kept
in mind.