Pediatric onset lupus nephritis in western India-is it different from the rest of the country?

Aim To determine the clinicopathological characteristics and outcomes of children diagnosed with lupus nephritis in a tertiary hospital in western Rajasthan and compare it with the data available from other parts of India. Material and methods A retrospective review of children presenting to a tertiary care center in western Rajasthan, India, with a diagnosis of pediatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (p SLE), between July 2017 and July 2020 was done. Comparisons of pediatric lupus in western India to other parts of country were done. Results 19 children with SLE with Renal involvement were enrolled and followed up. The median age at presentation was 15 years (IQR-16-9.5) (73% females). 8/19 (42%) children presented with AKI, of which 62% children presented as rapidly progressive renal failure. Six (37.5%) patients required dialysis at presentation. 84.21% of children were evaluated with renal biopsy, 16 biopsies were done in 19 children, among which class II, III, and IV lupus nephritis were reported in 21%,42%, and 35% respectively(4 crescentic). Antiphospholipid antibodies were positive in 8/15(53%), children which is much higher than a reported incidence of 30% in other Indian studies. Ten patients (52%) had neurological involvement, with seizures being the most common form of presentation (60%). Seven patients (36%) developed hepatitis. We noted many uncommon presentations in the small group like Autoimmune Pancreatitis, Mononeuritis multiplex, and peripheral digital gangrene. Cyclophosphamide was used in 10 out of 19 patients for inducing remission with class 3 and 4 nephritis and MMF in 8 children. 55% patients attained remission (after completing induction), of which 4 relapsed during the follow up. Four patients were lost to follow-up. A total of 27% patients died and 10% patients developed end stage renal failure. It was seen that those who died had more cardiac and neurological involvement at presentation, higher grade of proteinuria, lower GFR, and need for dialysis at admission. Conclusion We found a more severe form of clinical manifestation in pediatric SLE patients at the time of the first presentation in the form of severe renal and extrarenal manifestation compared to other parts of the country.