Systemic Lupus Erythematosus ( SLE )

Chronic autoimmune disease which may affect every organ and tissue. Four main types of lupus are- SLE is a multisystem , autoimmune disease , involving complex pathogenetic mechanisms that can present at any age ( British Society of Rheumatology 2018 )

How common -a rare disease with an estimated incidence of 0.3 - 31.5 / 100,000 person per year worldwide differences in the incidence and prevalence of SLE -this varies with sex , age , ethnicity and time highest prevalence in N America incidence peaks in middle adulthood and occurs later for men women of child bearing age suffer the most with a female to male ratio of 9 : 1 SLE can develop at any age - tends to start later in men ( 5th to 7th decade ) risk of women acquiring SLE reduces after menopause men suffer less but more severely compared to women people of black ethnicity have highest incidence and prevalence of SLE○ people of African heritage suffer with more severe disease and worse outcomes incidence has ↑↑ ed in the last 40 yrs Lupus affected nearly 1 in 1000 of the UK population in 2012.

Aetiology is poorly understood but genetic , hormonal ,...