Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus: Challenge for equity in Latin America.

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) is an autoimmune disease that presents with greater severity and higher mobility than adult-onset SLE. In Latin America, data on its incidence, prevalence and clinical phenotypes are limited. Specialized care is available only in a few centers with trained pediatric rheumatologists leading to substantial diagnostic delays and barriers to timely treatment. This review highlights the urgent need for region-specific strategies to improve early diagnosis, expand access to specialized care and reduce disparities in outcomes for children and adolescents with jSLE in Latin America.