Subclinical Gastrointestinal Involvement in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

September 29, 2026 updated by: Manar Kamal Mostafa Ahmed, Assiut University

Evaluation of Subclinical Gastrointestinal Involvement in Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus at Assiut University Children Hospital

This cross-sectional case-control study aims to evaluate fecal calprotectin levels and intestinal ultrasound findings for the detection of subclinical gastrointestinal involvement in children with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus compared with healthy controls.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Detailed Description

Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease. Gastrointestinal involvement may be under-recognized and can be subclinical.

This observational study will measure fecal calprotectin and perform intestinal ultrasound in children with JSLE and age- and sex-matched healthy controls to assess subclinical gastrointestinal involvement.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

1 year to 18 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Children with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus and age- and sex-matched healthy controls attending Assiut University Children Hospital.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children less than 18 years of age
  • Diagnosis of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus according to SLICC criteria
  • Disease duration of at least 3 months
  • Age- and sex-matched healthy controls
  • Written informed consent from parents or legal guardians

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Established diagnosis of inflammatory bowel disease or other primary gastrointestinal disorder
  • Significant gastrointestinal manifestations (persistent abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting, GI bleeding, significant unexplained weight loss)
  • Active gastrointestinal infection within the preceding 4 weeks
  • Antibiotics, probiotics, or NSAIDs within the 2 weeks preceding stool sample collection
  • Other autoinflammatory or overlapping autoimmune diseases
  • Chronic liver or renal disease unrelated to JSLE

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: CASE_CONTROL
  • Time Perspectives: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Juvenile Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Children with JSLE according to SLICC criteria with disease duration of at least 3 months.

Healthy Controls

Age- and sex-matched healthy children.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Mean fecal calprotectin level
Time Frame: Baseline

Mean fecal calprotectin concentration measured by ELISA in µg/g.

Baseline

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of children with elevated fecal calprotectin
Time Frame: Baseline

Proportion of children with fecal calprotectin level above the laboratory reference range.

Baseline
Proportion of children with abnormal intestinal ultrasound findings
Time Frame: Baseline

Proportion of children showing bowel-wall thickening or increased vascularity on intestinal ultrasound.

Baseline
Mean SLEDAI-2K score
Time Frame: Baseline

Mean Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K) score.

Baseline
Mean bowel wall thickness on ultrasound
Time Frame: Baseline

Mean bowel wall thickness in millimeters measured by intestinal ultrasound.

Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Mostafa s Khalaf, prof, Pediatrics Department, Assiut University Hospitals

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

September 30, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

September 30, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 20, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 29, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

October 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 29, 2026

Last Verified

September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Other Study ID Numbers

  • JSLE-GI-Assiut-2026

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.