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Comparative Study
. 2025 Jan;28(1):e70082.
doi: 10.1111/1756-185X.70082.

Differences and Similarities Between Children and Adults With Rhupus Syndrome

Seher Sener  1 , Dilara Unal  1 , Ezgi Deniz Batu  1 , Gozde Sevgi Kart Bayram  2 , Busra Firlatan  2 , Levent Kilic  2 , Sezgin Sahin  3 , Deniz Gezgin Yildirim  4 , Miray Kisla Ekinci  5 , Hakan Kisaoglu  6 , Yasin Karali  7 , Selcan Demir  8 , Ummusen Kaya Akca  9 , Aybuke Gunalp  3 , Seyma Turkmen  10 , Gulsah Kavrul Kayaalp  11 , Ceyda Arslanoglu  12 , Ruya Torun  13 , Hulya Ercan Emreol  1 , Ozge Basaran  1 , Aysenur Pac Kisaarslan  12 , Betul Sozeri  10 , Nuray Aktay Ayaz  11 , Sevcan Azime Bakkaloglu  4 , Sara Sebnem Kilic  7 , Mukaddes Kalyoncu  6 , Yelda Bilginer  1 , Erbil Unsal  13 , Ozgur Kasapcopur  3 , Sule Apras Bilgen  2 , Seza Ozen  1
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Differences and Similarities Between Children and Adults With Rhupus Syndrome

Seher Sener et al. Int J Rheum Dis. 2025 Jan.

Abstract

Aim: In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the characteristics of pediatric and adult rhupus patients.

Methods: Thirty pediatric patients with rhupus syndrome and 15 adult patients with rhupus syndrome were included in this study. Similarities and differences between both groups were evaluated.

Results: The time elapsed between the diagnosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)/rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was longer in adults than in pediatric patients (p < 0.001). While the most common phenotypes at disease onset were JIA/RA in both adults and children, SLE was more prevalent in pediatric patients and RA in adult patients at the last visit (both p < 0.001). Cutaneous findings, oral ulcers, hematological and renal involvement, hypocomplementemia, and antidouble-stranded DNA positivity were more frequent in pediatric patients, whereas constitutional findings, nonscarring alopecia, neuropsychiatric involvement, and anticyclic citrullinated peptide positivity were more common in adults (all p < 0.001). Asymmetric polyarthritis was more prevalent in pediatric patients, whereas symmetric polyarthritis was more common in adult patients (both p < 0.001). Erosive arthritis was more frequently observed in adult patients (p < 0.001). In the treatment, mycophenolate mofetil was more commonly prescribed to pediatric patients, while rituximab was more frequently used for adult patients in the treatment of SLE compared to pediatric patients (both p < 0.001). Additionally, leflunomide was more commonly used in JIA/RA treatment in adult patients compared to pediatric patients (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: This is the first study comparing pediatric and adult patients with rhupus syndrome. Revealing these differences and similarities will contribute significantly to the literature.

Keywords: juvenile idiopathic arthritis; rheumatoid arthritis; rhupus syndrome; systemic lupus erythematosus.

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References

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    1. S. Sener, E. Batu, S. Sahin, et al., “Rhupus Syndrome in Children: A Multi‐Center Retrospective Cohort Study and Literature Review,” Lupus 33, no. 3 (2024): 273–281.

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