Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic

**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.

**Tree numbers:** - C17.300.480 - C20.111.590

**Synonyms:** - Lupus Erythematosus Disseminatus - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus