Advances in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): A case for optimism

Abstract

SLE is a heterogeneous, multi-organ autoimmune disease with a wide range of clinical and laboratory abnormalities. The hallmark of lupus is the generation of autoantibodies directed against a number of nuclear constituents, including double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), chromatin, small nuclear ribonucleoproteins, and antibodies against negatively charged phospholipids. Disease prevalence typically ranges from 0.05–0.15% with a strong female predominance (7 to 12:1).1,2