Survival up to 5 and 10 years of mexican pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Overhaul of 23 years experience.

A retrospective overhaul of all the patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, deceased or followed-up for at least 5 years within the Immunology Service of the Instituto Nacional de Pediatría (Mexico), since 1970 up to december 1993. The objective was to determine overlife of mexican childs attended in a govermental institution and secondary to get information about demographic characteristics, time from inicial manifestations to diagnosis, treatment received, frequent complications, most important sequelas, and deed causes. 65 clinical records were reviewed, 86.2% females and 13.8% males, ages from 2 to 18 years old; 20 months was the average from start of illnes to definitive diagnosis. Most patient's initial treatment was prednisone and cyclophosphamide, being modified according to response evaluated by clinical al laboratory follow-up. Fifty one patients (78.5%) survived, 60% from 5 to 10 years, and 40% more than 10 years. Fourteen patients died (21.5%). Most frequent complications were local and systemic infections, hemorragic cystitis and steroidal diabetes. Principal dead cause was sepsis. Mortality en Systemic Lupus Erythematosus patients continues being high. Many factors contribute for delay diagnosis, in its way responsable for poorer pronostic. As a pediatric hospital, follow-up is end at adulthood, what makes long term follow-up limited.