Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a common autoimmune disorder occurring predominantly in women during reproductive years and having strong minority representation.The hallmark of SLE is its diversity of presentation with accumulation of manifestations over time and undulating disease course.Essentially any organ system can be affected by SLE with constitutional symptoms, mucocutaneous, musculoskeletal, renal, and central nervous system (CNS) being most common.Presence of autoantibodies, the unifying manifestation of SLE, is useful for diagnosis and the pattern of autoantibodies may help to predict clinical manifestations. Anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies are useful, along with changes in complement levels, for predicting disease flares in some patients.Special attention during pregnancy may help to avoid disease flares and adverse fetal outcome.■ Many drugs can trigger a lupuslike illness associated with autoantibodies, but typically with fewer disease manifestations and temporal association with the offending agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]