An inflammatory connective tissue disorder of unknown etiology occurring predominantly in young women, but also in children; 90% of cases occur in women. The sera of most patients contain antinuclear antibodies, including anti-DNA antibodies.
Pathology, Symptoms, and Signs
Clinical findings vary with the acuteness of the disease and the distribution of the lesions. SLE may begin abruptly with fever, simulating acute infection, or may develop insidiously over months or years with episodes of fever and malaise. Manifestations referable to any organ system may appear. As many as 90% of patients complain of articular symptoms, ranging from intermittent arthralgias to acute polyarthritis, some for years before other manifestations appear. A past history of "growing pains" in childhood is not uncommon. In long-standing disease, tendon contractures and secondary joint deformity may occur without x-ray evidence of erosion (Jaccoud's arthritis).
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