Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus in Bahrain. A tertiary referral center experience.

Objective: To analyze the clinical and serological features of children with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a major referral center in Bahrain and to assess the comorbidity, its morbidity, and mortality.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of children with SLE treated in the Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic at Salmaniya Medical Complex, Kingdom of Bahrain from 1998 to 2007. The ethical approval for the study was obtained from the Research Health Committee, Ministry of Health, Kingdom of Bahrain.