Pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (cSLE), compared with adult SLE, is characterized by a more severe phenotype, with more marked hematologic, neuropsychiatric, and renal changes. Lupus nephritis is a pivotal manifestation of pediatric SLE and an important prognostic factor. It is hypothesized that activation of the interferon pathway is more pronounced in monogenic forms, in which the response to IFN-I represents the primary alteration and likely the main pathogenic mechanism.
This finding may also be relevant in light of the availability of new drugs that selectively target the IFN-I pathway.
Demonstration of IFN-I pathway activation could be used as a diagnostic algorithm in aggressive pediatric forms resistant to immunosuppressive therapy and represent a therapeutic target.
