Autoimmune diseases in children

Autoimmune diseases of children are on the whole, rare, but can be associated with not inconsequential morbidity and mortality when they occur. Moreover, they pose major diagnostic and therapeutic challenges for the paediatrician, and the decision to treat such diseases with corticosteroids and in some instances cytotoxic immunosuppressant drugs must balance morbidity from the underlying disease against significant toxicity and injury from therapy. A number of novel therapies including anti-tumour necrosis alpha therapy, and monoclonal antibodies against B cells are beginning to be used in children, although their efficacy and safety remains to be fully elucidated.