The Clinical Presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
January 2011
in “
Elsevier eBooks
”
TLDR Systemic Lupus Erythematosus has varied symptoms and is hard to diagnose, affecting many body parts and requiring careful clinical judgment.
The document from 2011 provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical presentation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease with a complex pathogenesis and diverse symptoms affecting multiple organ systems. It emphasizes the challenges in diagnosing SLE due to its general symptoms and the limitations of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria, highlighting the importance of clinical judgment. The document notes that arthritis, renal involvement, and neuropsychiatric symptoms are common in SLE patients, with specific mention of the high rate of cerebrovascular accidents and the prevalence of cardiac and pulmonary complications. It also discusses the skin manifestations, including alopecia and various types of lupus rashes, and less common issues like gastrointestinal, liver, and eye involvement. The document underscores the variability in immunologic laboratory test results and the need for thorough history and physical examination in diagnosing SLE.
