SLE

Abstract

SLE is characterized by a variety of cutaneous and multiple organ symptoms and abnormal laboratory findings. The cutaneous manifestations of SLE include LE-specific lesions and the lesions non-specific but common to other collagen diseases. The accurate analysis of cutaneous manifestations is useful for the early diagnosis of SLE and for evaluation of the patient’s prognoses. The sera from patients with SLE may contain a variety of autoantibodies, including anti-DNA, anti-U 1 RNP, anti-Sm, anti-SS-A, and anti-SS-B, some of which are related to specified clinical symptoms or are useful for the evaluation of the patient’s prognoses. Recent studies have elucidated the respective autoantigen recognized by each autoantibody. The pathogenesis of SLE may involve the disruption of tolerance against autoantigens in both T and B cells or the abnormal regulation of cytokines. For the appropriate treatment of SLE patients, the physician needs to accurately determine the pathological status of the patients and to select those cases who need systemic administration of immunosuppressants including corticosteroids. Anti-phospholipid syndrome can also be associated with SLE: it requires anti-coagulation therapy.