Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (SLE)

Descriptive text is not available for this image BASICS

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

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

  • 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

Genetic, environmental, immunoregulatory, hormonal, and epigenetic factors all play a role.

Genetics

>90 susceptibility loci for SLE in genome-wide association studies (1)[C]

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

Antiphospholipid syndrome, depression, fibromyalgia, thyroid disease, connective tissue disease syndromes (such as rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren syndrome, systemic sclerosis)

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