Water-based Liuzijue Exercise on Childhood-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Water-based Liuzijue Exercise on Childhood-onset Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a life-long systemic autoimmune disease with a large variability in its clinical course. The onset of SLE during childhood and adolescence represents 10 to 20% of all SLE cases [1] and is associated with a more severe disease course compared to adult SLE. Due to earlier diagnosis as well as significant advances in the management of childhood-onset SLE (C-SLE), mortality rates have greatly decreased, with an estimated 5- to 10-year survival rate of over 85% [2].As a consequence, there has been a great increase in long-term co-morbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is currently considered a major cause of long-term mortality in C-SLE patients [3].

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a life-long systemic autoimmune disease with a large variability in its clinical course. The onset of SLE during childhood and adolescence represents 10 to 20% of all SLE cases As a consequence, there has been a great increase in long-term co-morbidities, particularly cardiovascular disease (CVD), which is currently considered a major cause of long-term mortality in C-SLE patients. Liuzijue, which is one such traditional Chinese health exercise, is performed in expiration to produce six different sounds (xu, he, hu, si, chui, and xi) together with smooth movements of the upper and lower limbs .

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age between 7 and 15 years
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI)-2K score ≤ 16

Exclusion Criteria:

• Neuropsychiatry involvement, hematologic abnormalitie
• cardiovascular rhythm and conduction disorders, musculoskeletal distur- bances that precluded participation in physical exercise
• pleuritis, pericarditis, endocarditis, acute kidney failure