Study describes PFT abnormalities in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Alterations in diffusing capacity and restrictive lung disease were among the most common abnormalities seen on pulmonary function tests (PFTs) in patients with childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE), according to a study.

In this retrospective review of 42 patients with cSLE followed for 5 years, 10 (23.8%) had abnormal PFTs, with a mean age at diagnosis of 13 ± 2.9 years. All but one of the patients with abnormal PFTs were female. Three patients had restrictive disease only, 3 had diffusion impairment only, and 4 had both restrictive lung disease and diffusion impairment.

During the study, those with restrictive patterns had a mean total lung capacity of 72.5 ± 5.8, and those with diffusion limitation had an average diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide corrected for hemoglobin of was 64.8 ± 8.3.

Reference
Altchek AJ, Moorthy LN, Ramagopal M, et al. A 5-year follow-up of pulmonary function tests in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a single-center retrospective study. Lupus. 2023;9612033231163831. doi: 10.1177/09612033231163831. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 36912463.