Musculoskeletal Disorders: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototype autoimmune disease affecting 1 in 1000–2000 individuals, predominantly young women in their reproductive years. For research purposes, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) developed criteria for the diagnosis of SLE in 1982 (see Table 1). 1 In 2012, the classification criteria were revised and expanded to improve clinical relevance and incorporate new knowledge regarding the immunology of SLE. 2 However, the original classification criteria are sufficient for the needs of primary care practitioners.