Pediatric Rheumatology Online Journal → July 2003 → Childhood Lupus→ Clinical Presentation, course and Outcomes → Abstract #96

OBJECTIVE SIGNS OF OCULAR DRYNESS IN PATIENTS WITH JUVENILE SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS

F. R. Sztajnbok,^1,3 L. C. Vasquez,¹ Y. M. Neves,² M. C. Araujo,² M. F. Rodrigues,¹ U. Destri,¹ B. Scofano,¹ S. K. Oliveira.¹

¹Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Rheumatology Section, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (IPPMG-UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; ²Ophtalmology Section, Adolescent Health Care Unit (NESA), State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; ³Adolescent Health Care Unit, State University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Objective signs of ocular dryness suggesting the possible development of secondary Sjogren Syndrome (SS) in juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) patients are rarely found in the literature. Our objective is to describe the frequency of these findings in this group of patients. It was a cross sectional study and all patients with the diagnosis of JSLE seen during the year 2001 in the Pediatric Rheumatology Section of IPPMG-UFRJ were sent to ocular examination in NESA-UERJ. Several exams were performed but only tear breakuptime, Schirmer's and bengal rose tests were considered for the search of dry eyes. If any of these 3 exams were abnormal, the patient was considered as having abnormal ocular finding suggesting dry eyes. 23 of the 36 patients with JSLE were submitted to ocular exams. All patients were asymptomatic in respect to ocular involvement. There were 10 female and 3 male, the age of JSLE onset was 4-10 years old (7,7±2,4) and in 13 patients (56,5%) at least one those 3 exams were abnormal. The duration of the JSLE in these patients was 1-11 years (mean 5,8±3,8; median 5,0) and in the group with normal ocular exams was 1-12 years (mean 5,4±4,3; median 3,0), with no statistical significance when comparing these 2 groups. Anti Ro antibody was performed in 7 out of the 13 patients and was positive in 3 (42,9%). We conclude that, in spite of being usually asymptomatic, ocular involvement in JSLE, suggesting an evolution to SS, may be more frequent than expected. This finding can be responsible for ocular damage if early diagnosis and treatment are not done.