Common Name(s):
Lupus
Alternative Names & Classifications:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (CLINICAL)
Description
This unpredictable disease produces autoantibodies that target the host's own DNA and cellular nuclei, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage. It disproportionately affects women of childbearing age, particularly those of African, Asian, and Hispanic descent. The clinical course involves alternating periods of severe illness flares and relative remission.