Systemic lupus erythematosus in a boy with a review of the Japanese literature.

A 3-year-old boy with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with no skin rash whatever throughout the course of the disease is described, and the possibility of occurrence without skin rash is stressed. Seventeen cases of SLE in male children were collected from the Japanese literature and reviewed. Death occurred in 4 patients. Not only renal but also pancreatic involvement was found to be of significance in causing death in childhood SLE.