Study Finds Lupus Nephritis Care and Treatment Varies in Children and Teens

A new study found that people who were diagnosed with lupus nephritis (LN) during childhood tend to have abnormal short-term kidney outcomes, especially if they are male and were diagnosed at an older age. The study also finds a wide variation in medications and guidelines used to treat pediatric LN.

Researchers analyzed data from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Alliance (CARRA) Registry. More than 220 records (83% female; 17% male) were examined. The data review included eligible children and adolescents under 18 years-old at lupus diagnosis and under 21 years-old at the time of enrollment. The study found:

• More than half (55%) of participants with available data had abnormal kidney function.
• Males and those who were diagnosed with lupus at an older age were more likely to have abnormal kidney status.
• There was more variation in medication regimens than the researchers expected, likely driven by healthcare providers’ treatment preferences.

“This study is an important step to understanding the real-world outcomes for people in North America recently diagnosed with lupus nephritis during childhood and what might contribute to these outcomes. We are so grateful to the patients who participate in the CARRA Registry to make this type of research possible,” shares Emily Smitherman, M.D., lead investigator and Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) Gary S. Gilkeson Career Development Awardee.

Dr. Smitherman will continue to use data from the CARRA Registry and other sources to help address key gaps that drive disparities and find effective interventions to improve outcomes. Learn more about her work and the LFA's partnership with CARRA.

Read the study