Prognostic Value of the 2019 EULAR/American College of Rheumatology Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Classification Criteria to Renal Response One Year After Treatment in a Cohort With Childhood‐Onset Lupus Nephritis

Abstract

Objective In 2019, the EULAR/American College of Rheumatology developed classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). A positive correlation between summary score at diagnosis and SLE disease activity at five years has been noted in adult patients with lupus, but little is known among the pediatric population. We evaluated the prognostic value of higher summary scores and number of extrarenal domains at diagnosis (low/moderate number [1–5] vs high number [6–9]) to renal outcomes after one year of treatment in pediatric patients with lupus nephritis (LN). Methods This retrospective, single‐center cohort study included 74 pediatric patients with LN. Published pediatric renal response definitions were used for our outcome measure (no, partial, and complete response). Descriptive statistics were reported, and an ordinal logistic regression estimated adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for renal response including 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results Patients with high extrarenal domains had OR 1.47 (95% CI 0.55–2.91) of having a complete renal response compared to patients with low/moderate domains. Patients with a summary score <30 had OR 1.31 (95% CI 0.50–3.44) of having a complete renal response relative to a summary score ≥30, though a larger proportion of patients with a summary score of ≥30 had no renal response after one year of treatment. Conclusion More extrarenal domains at diagnosis did not have a statistically significant impact on renal response at one year, nor did a higher summary score. However, a larger portion of patients with a summary score <30 achieved complete renal response compared to patients with a score ≥30.