Abstract:

Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disease in which autoantibodies target many body organs, including the central nervous system. Neuropsychiatric manifestations can occur in 22-95% of pediatric cases, but are much less frequent as an initial clinical event, rarely leading to a diagnosis of JSLE.(1-3) Depression can be a symptom of active JSLE or it can occur as a reaction following diagnosis of chronic illness.(4-7) A 12-year-old girl was admitted with a history of sadness, decreased interest in activities, poor communication, and absences from school, fatigue, irritable moods, and arthralgia in her hands. The patient had not yet had menarche. The symptoms worsened, so the family decided to call for a psychiatric consultation. Given a diagnosis of depression, she was started on treatment with antidepressants without any response. Her depressive symptoms continued, but the family decided not to seek continued medical help. As stated above, after waiting for over a year, she was admitted to another hospital with nephrotic syndrome, anasarca, and a positive antinuclear antibody. Prednisone 1 mg/kg/day was started and after 30 days, little improvement was seen. She was then transferred to our hospital with periorbital edema and pleural effusion. Urinary analysis revealed microscopic hematuria and proteinuria (24 hour proteinuria was 3814 mg/L) with normal renal function. A written informed consent was obtained from the parents or guardians. Other laboratory findings included hemoglobin, 7.6 g/dL; white cell count, 10,360/mm(3) (polymorphonuclear leukocyte count of 9,220/mm(3); lymphocyte count of 932/mm(3)); and platelet count, 356,000/mm(3). Erythrocyte sedimentation rate of 120 mm in the first hour with C-reactive protein was 19.0 mg/dL. Immunological investigation revealed antinuclear antibodies 1:640 homogeneous pattern, anti- double stranded deoxyribonucleic acid antibodies 316 UI/mL (<100 UI/mL), and low serum C3 and C4 complement levels. Renal biopsy showed diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, class IV-S (A/C) International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society, 2004, with activity index of 6 and chronicity index of 2 (Figures 1 and 2). Immunofluorescence staining showed deposits of immunoglobulin M, immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin A, as well as C3 and C1q in mesangium and capillary loops, with segmental and diffuse distribution. Lupus nephritis was considered, as the patient fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for SLE. She had no recurrence of depression during the four-month period follow-up. This case report illustrates the diagnostic challenge in juvenile neuropsychiatric lupus. Early diagnosis and precocious treatment may be important to control disease sequelae and reduce the high morbidity of this disease. Our case highlights the need for rheumatologists to recognize that depression, in a young female patient without response to antidepressants, could be the first manifestation of JSLE. Identification of SLE-specific biomarkers of depression also has high priority.

Keywords: