BACKGROUND: The treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus in childhood and adolescence (juvenile SLE) requires patient-oriented multidisciplinary care that takes the heterogeneity of the disease into account. For adults, adolescents and children, the treat to target (T2T) approach is becoming established as the basis for SLE treatment with the aim of achieving remission. This requires patients and families to be empowered to decide on treatment hand in hand with the care team through participatory decision making. The S2‑k guidelines on juvenile SLE enables a state-of-the-art care for patients with jSLE in routine clinical practice.

AIM OF THE ARTICLE: The article explains the key areas of treatment management and the particular challenges in the care of jSLE patients based on these guidelines. A particular focus is placed on the actual implementation and interdisciplinarity.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The recommendations of these guidelines were developed based on the T2T principle and participatory decision-making process by a multiprofessional team of experts in this field in accordance with the rules of the Association of Scientific Medical Societies in Germany (AWMF). The consensus comprises 2 core statements, 11 overarching principles (OAP), 12 overarching treatment strategies (OATS) and 40 recommendations. In addition to defining treatment goals, the clinical challenge is the development of treatment strategies that are in agreement with patients and their families. There is a lack of evidence in this area. This makes it all the more important to regularly revisit and evaluate both, taking the disease damage, medication side effects, comorbidities and the achievement of a good quality of life into account.