Monogenic and SLE-like disorders in the pediatric population: insights from a Northern Israel cohort

Abstract

Introduction

While Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) typically presents with a multifactorial etiology, rare monogenic forms exist, usually diagnosed during childhood with a severe clinical course. This study aims to identify monogenic causes of SLE within the pediatric population of Northern Israel and to suggest criteria for genetic evaluation in patients with childhood-onset SLE.

Methods

Clinical and genetic data were collected from a single tertiary pediatric medical center in Israel, between 2010 and 2021. Patients diagnosed with SLE before the age of 18 years were enrolled in the study. Monogenic SLE was suspected in patients with any of the following criteria: (1) family history of SLE, (2) consanguinity, (3) early onset of symptoms (under 10 years), (4), atypical clinical course, (5) male gender, (6) syndromic features. Genetic evaluations were performed for these patients.

Results

Seventy-five patients were diagnosed with SLE, of whom 18 (24%) met the criteria for suspected monogenic SLE. Genetic evaluations were conducted for 13 out of the 18 patients (72%) leading to a diagnosis of a monogenic form of SLE in 6 of the 13 patients (46%), and total of 8% from the entire cohort. Four patients were diagnosed with prolidase deficiency, one patient with Aicardi–Goutières syndrome (AGS) and one patient with Spondyloenchondrodysplasia with immune dysregulation (SPENCDI) syndrome. Additionally, candidate variants in C4B and ITPR3 genes were detected in an additional pedigree.

Conclusions

Monogenic SLE was identified in 46% of the children within this selected cohort. A genetic diagnosis can yield direct clinical implications and enhance our understanding of the mechanisms involved in the more common sporadic forms of SLE.