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) 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 [95% CI=1.6–16.5], P =.003). Alopecia (OR=10.11, 95% CI=1.25–97) and skin rash (non-discoid) (OR=4.1, 95% CI=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.