Preliminary criteria for global flares in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus

Hermine I. Brunner*, Rina Mina, Clarissa Pilkington, Michael W. Beresford, Andreas Reiff, Deborah M. Levy, Lori B. Tucker, B. Anne Eberhard, Angelo Ravelli, Laura E. Schanberg, Claudia Saad-Magalhaes, Gloria C. Higgins, Karen Onel, Nora G. Singer, Emily Von Scheven, Lukasz Itert, Marisa S. Klein-Gitelman, Marilynn Punaro, Jun Ying, Edward H. Giannini

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective To develop widely acceptable preliminary criteria of global flare for childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE). Methods Pediatric rheumatologists (n = 138) rated a total of 358 unique patient profiles with information about the cSLE flare descriptors from 2 consecutive visits: patient global assessment of well-being, physician global assessment of disease activity (MD-global), health-related quality of life, anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, disease activity index scores, protein:creatinine (P:C) ratio, complement levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). Based on 2,996 rater responses about the course of cSLE (baseline versus followup), the accuracy (sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve) of candidate flare criteria was assessed. An international consensus conference was held to rank these candidate flare criteria as per the American College of Rheumatology recommendations for the development and validation of criteria sets. Results The highest-ranked candidate criteria considered absolute changes (Δ) of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) or British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG), MD-global, P:C ratio, and ESR; flare scores can be calculated (0.5 × ΔSLEDAI + 0.45 × ΔP:C ratio + 0.5 × ΔMD-global + 0.02 × ΔESR), where values of ≥1.04 are reflective of a flare. Similarly, BILAG-based flare scores (0.4 × ΔBILAG + 0.65 × ΔP:C ratio + 0.5 × ΔMD-global + 0.02 × ΔESR) of ≥1.15 were diagnostic of a flare. Flare scores increased with flare severity. Conclusion Consensus has been reached on preliminary criteria for global flares in cSLE. Further validation studies are needed to confirm the usefulness of the cSLE flare criteria in research and for clinical care.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1213-1223
Number of pages11
JournalArthritis Care and Research
Volume63
Issue number9
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2011

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Rheumatology

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