Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder. It can affect the skin, joints, and internal organs. Symptoms vary greatly from person to person. The onset of symptoms may begin suddenly with fever, resembling an acute infection, or may develop gradually over months or years with a general feeling of being unwell. Patients can experience episodes of severe symptoms, called flare-ups, between symptom-free periods of remission. Many more women than men are affected. Prognosis depends on the severity of symptoms.

Show Full Description Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory connective tissue disorder that can involve joints, kidneys, mucous membranes, and blood vessel walls. SLE is one of a number of diseases classified as an autoimmune disorder. The mechanism or cause of autoimmune diseases is not fully known. In healthy people, the immune system controls the body's defenses against infection. In people with SLE and other autoimmune diseases, these defenses are turned against the body's own immune cells, which attack healthy cells. This can cause a variety or symptoms and chronic (long-term) disease. Systemic lupus erythematosus affects 9 times as many women as men. It may occur at any age but occurs most often in people between the ages of 10 and 50 years. Lupus can also be caused by taking certain medications. When this occurs, it is known as drug-induced lupus erythematosus. Drug-induced lupus usually disappears after the medication is stopped The course of systemic lupus erythematosus may vary from a mild episodic illness to a severe fatal disease. Symptoms can also vary widely in a particular person. The disease course can be characterized by symptom-free periods of remission and periods of exacerbation of symptoms, called flare-ups. At the onset of SLE, only 1 organ system may be involved. Migraine-type headaches may be the first symptom. However, additional symptoms affecting other organ systems can develop as the disease progresses. Joint symptoms, ranging from intermittent joint pains (arthralgias) to sudden inflammation of multiple joints (acute polyarthritis), occur in about 90% of people and may exist for years before other symptoms appear. Skin rashes include the characteristic butterfly-like rash of lupus across the nose and cheeks. Raised bumps or patches of thin skin and red, flat, or raised areas on the face, neck, upper chest, and elbows can also develop. Sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity) occurs in 40% of people with lupus. The course of lupus is unpredictable, and the prognosis varies widely. Usually, if the initial inflammation is controlled, the long-term prognosis for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus is good. Treatment depends on which organs are affected and whether the lupus is mild or severe. The information provided in the Lupus Condition Guide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice. A licensed healthcare professional should be consulted for diagnosis of lupus and treatment of any and all medical conditions.