Background DNAase is an apoptotic endonuclease responsible for degradation of chromatin released by inappropriately cleared dead cells. DNAase1 activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients is lower than that in inactive disease in studies conducted in adult SLE patients from developed country. There is a paucity of data on DNAase1 activity in paediatric SLE from India.

Methods A cross-sectional observational study was conducted over a period of 1 year. Thirty-three consecutive children with pediatric-onset SLE were enrolled and divided into active and inactive disease activity groups based on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score and compared the serum DNAase1 level between the two groups.

Results Out of 33 children enrolled, 13 (39.3%) had active disease (SLEDAI score 3) and 20 (60.6%) had inactive disease activity. Mean age at diagnosis was 8.5 years and 10.2 years in active and inactive groups respectively. There is female preponderance (66.7%) in the enrolled patients. Anti nuclear antibody (ANA) was positive in 90.9% of patients. The most common pattern of ANA was diffuse pattern (48.4%). The patients in active disease activity group presented most commonly with nephritis (53.8%), rash (53.8%), arthralgia (38.5%), oral ulcer (30.8%) and central nervous system (CNS) involvement (38.4%) while patients in inactive disease activity group presented with nephritis (35%), arthralgia (35%), rash (25%) and CNS involvement (30%). Class III/IV lupus nephritis was present in 25% in active disease activity group while it was present in 23.1% in inactive disease activity group. Anti-double stranded DNA (anti dsDNA) was elevated in 53.8% in active group and 50% in inactive group. Antiphospholipid antibody was present in 3 (23.1%) in active disease activity group and 5 (25%) in inactive disease activity group. The mean serum concentrations of DNAase1 were 15.394 ng/ml in active disease group and 15.205 ng/ml in inactive disease group. There was no statistically significant difference in the serum DNAase1 concentrations between the two groups (p=0.943). There was also no significant difference in the mean serum concentration of DNAase1 in patients with or without nephritis (p=0.080).

Conclusions The present study could not established any correlation between serum DNAase1 levels and disease activity in pediatric-onset SLE. There was no association between serum DNAase1 levels and organ involvement such as nephritis in the enrolled patients.

Funding Source(s): None