RT Book, Section A1 Silver, Bob A2 Foley, Michael R. A2 Strong, Jr, Thomas H. A2 Garite, Thomas J. SR Print(0) ID 1152538404 T1 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in the Pregnant Patient T2 Obstetric Intensive Care Manual, 5e YR 1 FD 1 PB McGraw-Hill Education PP New York, NY SN 9781259861758 LK obgyn.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=1152538404 RD 2024/03/28 AB Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystemic chronic inflammatory disease that affects patients in many different ways over a varying course of time. The disease is typically characterized by periods of remission and relapse, although the causes of exacerbation remain uncertain. SLE, like most autoimmune diseases, has a clear predilection for women. Indeed, women are affected seven times more frequently than men. The disorder may be diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 50 years, although it is most often detected in women in their twenties. Therefore, SLE is the most commonly encountered autoimmune disease in pregnancy. Although no specific gene mutation for SLE has been identified, the disease likely has a genetic component.1 Approximately 10% of affected patients have a relative with SLE and monozygotic twin studies demonstrate that 50% of affected twins are concordant for the disease. It is estimated that about 2% of children born to mothers with SLE will develop the disease themselves.2 The symptoms of SLE are extremely heterogeneous which can make the diagnosis difficult. The disease may affect joints, skin, kidneys, lung, nervous system, and other organs. The most common presenting complaints are extreme fatigue, arthralgias, fever, and rash (Table 27-1).