Journal of Pediatric Biochemistry 2010; 01(01): 045-051
DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1586363
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart – New York

Laboratory medicine in pediatric lupus

Antonio La Cava
a   Department of Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, 1000 Veteran Avenue 32–59, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1670, USA. Tel.: +1 310 267 4975; Fax: +1 310 206 8606; E-mail: alacava@mednet.ucla.edu
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Further Information

Publication History

26 April 2010

17 May 2010

Publication Date:
28 July 2016 (online)

Abstract

Pediatric lupus encompasses a broad variety of clinical manifestations of a systemic disease. Routine laboratory testing, autoantibodies, and complement levels can confirm the diagnosis and help monitoring and therapy of the disease, to ultimately improve outcomes. Additionally, tests can help to identify subsets of patients with specific risk factors and/or the involvement of selected organs/systems. The availability, refinement and accuracy of laboratory tests are instrumental to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of pediatric lupus patients.