Herpes zoster infection in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus patients: a large multicenter study

ObjectiveThe aim of this multicenter study in a large childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) population was to assess the herpes zoster infection (HZI) prevalence, demographic data, clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, treatment, and outcome.MethodsA retrospective multicenter cohort study (Brazilian cSLE group) was performed in ten Pediatric Rheumatology services in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, and included 852 cSLE patients. HZI was defined according to the presence of acute vesicular-bullous lesions on erythematous/edematous base, in a dermatomal distribution. Post-herpetic neuralgia was defined as persistent pain after one month of resolution of lesions in the same dermatome. Patients were divided in two groups for the assessment of current lupus manifestations, laboratory findings, and treatment: patients with HZI (evaluated at the first HZI) and patients without HZI (evaluated at the last visit).ResultsThe frequency of HZI in cSLE patients was 120/852 (14%). Hospitalization occurred...