Prospective Cross-Sectional Clinical Study of Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases in Pediatric Age Group in Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction: Autoimmune Connective Tissue Diseases (AICTD) may occur during childhood, each with variable clinical presentations; amongst the more common are lupus erythematosus (LE), morphea and juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM). (1) Juvenile onset systemic sclerosis (SSc) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) are rare. Aim and objective: To assess clinical presentation, course of disease and complications of paediatric onset autoimmune connective tissue diseases. Material and method: Prospective, cross-sectional study of 36 paediatric patients diagnosed as autoimmune connective tissue disease from Jan-2011 to Aug-2019 was done. Results: Out of total 36 patients, 22 patients had lupus erythematosus, 9 patients had morphea, 3 patients had juvenile onset systemic sclerosis, 1 patient had mixedconnective tissue disease and 1 had juvenile dermatomyositis. Conclusion: Autoimmune connective tissue diseases are not uncommon in paediatric age group and presenting complaints and diagnostic methods may differ in paediatric age group.