Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (SLE)
BASICS
BASICS

BASICS
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
DESCRIPTION
- Multisystem autoimmune inflammatory disorder with variable presentation, disease course, and prognosis
- Can manifest in any organ system, especially dermatologic, renal, hematologic, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular
- Synonyms: lupus, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
EPIDEMIOLOGY
EPIDEMIOLOGY
EPIDEMIOLOGY
Incidence
Incidence
Incidence
- 5 to 7 per 100,000 person-years in United States.
- Significant variation based on ethnicity: black, 16.0; American Indian/Alaska Native, 7.4; Hispanic, 5.6; Asian/Pacific Islander, 4.6; and white, 3.3 per 100,000 person-years
- Strong female predominance compared to male: 9.8 vs 0.8 per 100,000 person-years (~12-fold higher)
- Peak incidence: 3rd to 7th decades of life for females, 5th to 7th decades of life for males
Prevalence
Prevalence
Prevalence
- Ranges from 20 to 150 cases per 100,000 people in United States.
- Strong female predominance: 179 versus 21 cases per 100,000 (~9-fold higher) with highest in black women: 498 cases per 100,000 people
ETIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
ETIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
ETIOLOGY AND PATHOPHYSIOLOGY
Genetic, environmental, immunoregulatory, hormonal, and epigenetic factors all play a role.
Genetics
Genetics
Genetics
>90 susceptibility loci for SLE in genome-wide association studies (1)[C]
RISK FACTORS
RISK FACTORS
RISK FACTORS
- Ethnicity: highest risk in black populations; intermediate risk in Asian, Hispanic, and American Indian/Alaska Native populations
- Hormonal: female sex, early menarche/menopause, endometriosis, surgical menopause
- Family history of SLE or autoimmune disease
- Environmental: cigarette smoking, crystalline silica exposure, exogenous female hormones, certain medications (drug-induced lupus), UV light
COMMONLY ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS
COMMONLY ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS
COMMONLY ASSOCIATED CONDITIONS
Antiphospholipid syndrome, depression, fibromyalgia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease syndromes (such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, systemic sclerosis)
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