Massias JS, Smith EMD, Al-Abadi E, et al. - The researchers identified age-specific clinical and/or serological patterns in patients (n = 418) with juvenile-onset SLE (JSLE) who were participating in the UK JSLE Cohort Study. At the onset of the disease, patient records were accessed and grouped based on age: pre-pubertal (≤ 7 years), peri-pubertal (8–13 years) and adolescent (14–18 years). When compared with other age groups, prepubertal individuals less frequently presented with leukopenia, thrombocytopenia or low complement. There were no variations found in disease activity, damage (Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics damage index) and the number of American College of Rheumatology criteria fulfilled at last follow up. Presentations of disease and laboratory results differ significantly between age groups within a national cohort of JSLE patients. When compared with younger patients, those diagnosed during adolescence display greater disease activity and “classic” autoantibody, immune cell and complement patterns. This supports the hypothesis that pathomechanisms can differ between age groups of patients.