Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Outcome | KK Women's and Children's Hospital

Established in 2009, the Rheumatology and Immunology Service at KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital is Singapore’s only dedicated centre for the care of children and young adults with rheumatic and immunologic disorders. As a regional referral centre for the Asia Pacific and beyond, we manages a wide spectrum of systemic autoimmune and autoinflammatory diseases with a patient centered approach through a multidisciplinary team of paediatric rheumatologists and allied health professionals.

We also lead the REgistry for Childhood Onset Rheumatic DiseaseS (RECORDS), supporting clinical excellence and research. Through close collaboration with local Translational Immunology Institute (TII), regional Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR), and international partners such as the Paediatric Rheumatology INternational Trials Organisation (PRINTO), we advance clinical and translational research to improve outcomes for children with rheumatic disease. Our department is recognized as a Center of Excellence in clinical care, research and education by APLAR.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs, with lupus nephritis (LN) representing one of its most serious complications. LN involves inflammation of the kidneys and, if left untreated, may lead to irreversible kidney damage and end-stage renal failure.

At KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, our clinical outcomes for paediatric SLE and lupus nephritis are among the best internationally. Our 5- and 10-year patient survival rates stand at an outstanding 99.3%. Remarkably, our kidney survival rate is 100% at both 5 and 10 years, with no patients progressing to end-stage renal disease.

These outcomes reflect our commitment to early diagnosis, personalised treatment, and multidisciplinary care — ensuring that children with SLE receive the highest standard of care and the best chance for long-term health.

Conclusion

At KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, we are committed to delivering world-class care for children with systemic lupus erythematosus. Our outstanding clinical outcomes reflect a steadfast commitment to early intervention, evidence-based therapies, and a multidisciplinary approach tailored to each patient. With superior survival rates against international benchmarks, we remain a leading centre in paediatric lupus management in the Asia Pacific region. Through continuous research integration and holistic clinical care, we aim not only to sustain these excellent outcomes but to further advance the care and quality of life for children with autoimmune diseases in Singapore and the region.

*Benchmark: Khandelwal P., Govindarajan S., and Bagga A. (2022) Management and outcomes in children with lupus nephiritis in the developing countries. Pediatric Nephrology 2022 September; https://doi.org/10.1007/s00467-022-05769-x

High income countries:
5 yrs, 10 yrs patient survival rates: 94(91-97)%, 89(86-93)%.
5 yrs, 10 yrs kidney survival rates: 93(90-96)%, 89(84-94)%.

Paediatric Rheumatology - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Outcome