Multicentric prevalence study of anti P ribosomal autoantibodies in juvenile onset systemic lupus erythematosus compared with adult onset systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence and associations with clinical manifestations of anti- P ribosomal antibodies in patients with juvenile-onset and adult-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Clinical and serological data of 30 patients with juvenile-onset SLE (age at onset younger than 16 years old) were compared with data of 92 patients with adult-onset SLE. Symptoms occurring during the entire disease course were considered. Anti- P ribosomal antibodies were tested by ELISA.

Results: Anti- P ribosomal antibodies were found significantly more often in pediatric-onset SLE patients (26.7% vs. 6.5%; OR=5.21 [CI95%=1.6-16.5], p=0.003). Alopecia (OR=10.11, CI 95%=1.25-97) and skin rash (non discoid) (OR=4.1, CI 95%=1.25-13.89) were significantly associated with anti- P ribosomal antibodies.

Conclusion: Anti-ribosomal P antibodies are more often found in patients with juvenile SLE. Alopecia and skin rash were the only clinical manifestations associated to anti-ribosomal P antibodies.