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We would like to thank Batu et al 1 for the interest in our work and for evaluating the performance of SLE Risk Probability Index (SLERPI)2 in paediatric SLE patients. In their analysis using the simple scoring version of the index as a binary outcome, the sensitivity and specificity was 90.0% and 81.2%, respectively.1 Applying a more stringent cut-off of >8 resulted in a sensitivity of 81.2% and a specificity of 89.4%. Notably, the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the scoring version of SLERPI was 0.94 (95% CI 0.919 to 0.968), suggesting a good discriminating capacity.1
To put these results into context, one should consider the fact that the SLERPI was developed based on features derived from exclusively adult patients,2 the index performs optimally as a continuous probabilistic (rather than binary) model (https://www.rheumatology-uoc.gr/en/slerpi) to produce diagnostic certainty levels and finally, features should be counted only if there is no better explanation according to the attribution rule of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR)/American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2019 classification criteria.3–5 In this regard, previous studies have indicated a tendency for lower overall performance of the SLE classification criteria, especially the ACR 1997 and EULAR/ACR 2019, in childhood-onset/juvenile patients with early disease,6–8 although there is scantiness of direct adult–paediatric comparative analyses. Interestingly, and in line with the suggestion by Batu et al 1 for using a higher SLERPI cut-off point (>8), increasing the classification threshold of the EULAR/ACR 2019 criteria resulted in enhanced specificity to detect paediatric cases of SLE versus mimicking disorders.7 9
On another point, Batu et al 1 reported haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) as the two diseases most frequently misclassified as SLE by the SLERPI. Although we acknowledge that neither disorder was included in the SLERPI derivation or validation datasets, HUS is rarely encountered during adult life. MCTD can indeed be challenging to differentiate from lupus, which may contribute to reduced specificity of the existing SLE classification criteria.9 10 Intriguingly, a significant proportion of patients initially diagnosed as MCTD may evolve into another defined connective tissue disease including SLE11; therefore, it would be tempting to evaluate SLERPI as a prognostic index in such cases.
To this end, we welcome the initiative of Batu et al to evaluate SLERPI in paediatric cases, as well as any future efforts to further validate and calibrate the utility of this tool in different clinical settings and populations.
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Footnotes
Handling editor Josef S Smolen
Collaborators GB and CA drafted the text.
Contributors CA and GB drafted the response letter.
Funding The authors have not declared a specific grant for this research from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.
Competing interests None declared.
Patient and public involvement Patients and/or the public were not involved in the design, conduct, reporting or dissemination plans of this research.
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.