Systemic lupus erythematosus

Definition: A chronic, relapsing, inflammatory, and often febrile multisystemic disorder of connective tissue, characterized principally by involvement of the skin, joints, kidneys, and serosal membranes. It is of unknown etiology, but is thought to represent a failure of the regulatory mechanisms of the autoimmune system. The disease is marked by a wide range of system dysfunctions, an elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and the formation of LE cells in the blood or bone marrow.

Synonyms (terms occurring on more labels are shown first): systemic lupus erythematosus, lupus syndrome, disseminated lupus erythematosus, lupus erythematosusSystemic, LE syndrome, lupus erythematosis, systemiclupus erythematosus, systemic lupus erythematosis, systemic-lupus erythematosus

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