The behavior of neutrophil extracellular traps and NADPH oxidative activity in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus: relation to disease activity and lupus nephritis.

Objectives: To evaluate the neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) assay and NADPH oxidase (Nox2) activity in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (pSLE) in relation to each other and SLE characteristics.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 50 children and adolescents with pSLE who were clinically evaluated and underwent routine laboratory work up of SLE (CBC, ESR, 24 hrs urinary proteins, serum creatinine, complement-3 (C3), anti-dsDNA, and antiphospholipid antibodies). NETs assay and dihydrorhodamine (DHR) test were done for patient group and 50 age- and sex-matched control group.