Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Pediatric Autoimmune Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Autoimmune diseases are medical conditions driven by the persistent activation of self-reactive B and/or T lymphocytes, due to the impairment of the physiological mechanisms of central and/or peripheral immunological tolerance. In general, these are multi-factorial disorders: they recognize a background of genetic predisposition (usually polygenic, but often not well-defined), where multiple and variable environmental factors superimpose in order to trigger the autoimmune pathological process. The role of the microbiome and, in general, epigenetic factors is also gradually emerging. Autoimmune diseases can manifest in children: several clinical and pathological aspects often differ from those shown by adult patients affected by the same autoimmune disease; moreover, the longer life expectancy and the ongoing growth process in children raise specific issues and questions in terms of medical management, therapeutic approach, and long-term complications. Finally, the current COVID-19 pandemic brought additional challenges in this specific field.

In this Special Issue, we aim to cover the current knowledge, ongoing progresses, and future perspectives in biomedical research on the diagnosis and medical management of pediatric autoimmune disorders. Moreover, articles investigating and discussing the immune-pathogenic and clinical peculiarities (including comorbidities) of autoimmune diseases and immune-mediated phenomena in children are also welcome.

Dr. Dimitri Poddighe
Dr. Micol Romano
Guest Editors

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