Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (SLE)
Basics
Description
- Multisystem autoimmune inflammatory disorder with variable presentation, disease course, and prognosis
- Can manifest in any organ system, especially dermatologic, renal, hematologic, musculoskeletal, and 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 versus 0.8 per 100,000 person-years (~12-fold higher)
- Peak incidence: 3rd to 7th decades of life for females and 5th to 7th decades of life for males
Prevalence
- Ranges from 70 to 100 cases per 100,000 people in United States.
- Strong female predominance compared to male: 179 versus 21 cases per 100,000 people (~9-fold higher) with highest prevalence 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)
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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Citation
Domino, Frank J., et al., editors. "Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (SLE)." 5-Minute Clinical Consult, 33rd ed., Wolters Kluwer, 2025. Medicine Central, im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688002/all/Lupus_Erythematosus__Systemic__SLE_.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (SLE). In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, et al, eds. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688002/all/Lupus_Erythematosus__Systemic__SLE_. Accessed October 11, 2024.
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (SLE). (2025). In Domino, F. J., Baldor, R. A., Golding, J., & Stephens, M. B. (Eds.), 5-Minute Clinical Consult (33rd ed.). Wolters Kluwer. https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688002/all/Lupus_Erythematosus__Systemic__SLE_
Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (SLE) [Internet]. In: Domino FJF, Baldor RAR, Golding JJ, Stephens MBM, editors. 5-Minute Clinical Consult. Wolters Kluwer; 2025. [cited 2024 October 11]. Available from: https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688002/all/Lupus_Erythematosus__Systemic__SLE_.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - ELEC
T1 - Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic (SLE)
ID - 1688002
ED - Domino,Frank J,
ED - Baldor,Robert A,
ED - Golding,Jeremy,
ED - Stephens,Mark B,
BT - 5-Minute Clinical Consult, Updating
UR - https://im.unboundmedicine.com/medicine/view/5-Minute-Clinical-Consult/1688002/all/Lupus_Erythematosus__Systemic__SLE_
PB - Wolters Kluwer
ET - 33
DB - Medicine Central
DP - Unbound Medicine
ER -