Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease manifested by self-reactive antibodies due to failure of selection in both B and T lymphocytes leading to immune intolerance accompanied by increased rate of apoptosis and deficiency in the clearance of the apoptotic cells. Micro RNAs regulate posttranscriptional gene expression and have been recently identified to regulate cellular differentiation, establishing immunological tolerance and are involved in the pathogenesis of several diseases. miR-181-a, expressed in haematopoietic cell lineage, has shown to be an important modulator of B and T cell differentiation, maturation and function. This study aims to identify the expression signature of miR-181-a in the peripheral blood of paediatric SLE and its regulatory effect on the consequent expression of its target gene PCAF.

Negative effects on growth indices had been reported in children treated with interferon for chronic viral hepatitis. Forty chronic hepatitis C virus-infected adolescents, 12-17 years of age, were treated with sofosbuvir/daclatasvir therapy for 12 weeks. The intent-to-treat sustained virologic response rate at 12 weeks after end of treatment was 39/40 (97.5%). Unlike interferon-based therapy, we did not detect significant negative effects on linear growth or weight. Contrarily, a trend to increased appetite and insignificant weight gain was observed, but further larger studies are needed to confirm. See Video-Abstract, http://links.lww.com/ASAIO/A381.