Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic systemic autoimmune illness characterized by autoantibodies directed at nuclear antigens that cause clinical and laboratory abnormalities, such as rash, arthritis, leukopenia and thrombocytopenia, alopecia, fever, nephritis, and neurologic disease. Most or all of the symptoms of acute lupus are attributable to immunologic attack on the affected organs. Many complications of long-term disease are attributable to both the disease and its treatment. Intense sun exposure, drug reactions, and infections are circumstances that induce flare; the aim of treatment is to induce remission. This chapter is divided into sections dealing with SLE’s definitions; epidemiology; pathogenesis; disease classification, diagnosis, and differential diagnosis; and treatment. This review contains 10 figures, 12 tables, and 97 references. Key Words: Systemic lupus erythematosus, Dermatomyositis, Sjögren syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, Discoid lupus erythematosus, truncal psoriasiform, annular polycyclic rash