Brief Report: Endothelial Progenitor Cell Phenotype and Function Are Impaired in Childhood‐Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Abstract

As in adult-onset SLE, childhood-onset SLE is characterized by phenotypic and functional EPC abnormalities, which are likely triggered by type I IFNs. Although cross-sectional analysis revealed no global association between type I IFN signatures and vascular measures of subclinical atherosclerosis, longitudinal assessments are needed to evaluate whether progression of vascular damage in patients with childhood-onset SLE is associated with type I IFNs, as observed in patients with adult-onset SLE.