Lupus Erythematosus

This completely updated and expanded 2nd edition of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, A Manual includes topics not covered previously with contributors who are at the forefront of each specific topic and with a global appeal. Each chapter is short and is presented critically with selected references, which should be valuable to a wider audience. This book combines basic with clinical science to help internists and specialists in the diagnosis and management of patients with SLE. It is a quick referral for people in the pharmaceutical industry in their efforts to bring much-needed drugs. It provides all the needed information to basic researchers old and new alike, who wish to enter the field of lupus and systemic autoimmunity in general. Focused state-of-the-art chapters prepared by top-notch experts in the field Latest understanding of cellular, molecular, biochemical aspects of disease pathogenesis Advanced aspects of genetic, microbiome, environmental, hormonal, and immunological contribution to the expression of the disease Current understanding of clinical features of the disease Recent efforts to develop new treatments

Often considered the prototypic autoimmune disease, Lupus is characterized by protean manifestations and affects a wide range of organ systems. Despite widespread availability of anti nuclear antibody testing and other technological diagnostic advances, the diagnosis of lupus can be elusive, difficult, and inexact. Treatment of the disease can also be challenging. Advances in immunology and biotechnology have led to a burgeoning world of new therapies in development that offer patients the real possibility of new therapies and physicians and scientists novel insights into the pathogenesis of this complicated immunological disease. Lupus Erythematosus: Clinical Evaluation and Treatment summarizes the clinical aspects of lupus facing the general clinician in the 21st century. In this invaluable, practical book, the reader will find introductory chapters regarding general diagnostic and treatment principles, followed by chapters addressing the lupus-specific organ manifestations. Special topics regarding pregnancy and comorbidities are also presented. Written by highly experienced physicians with special expertise in lupus, Lupus Erythematosus: Clinical Evaluation and Treatment is an indispensable reference for the common and not so common problems affecting patients with lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), commonly called lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can affect virtually any organ of the body. In lupus, the body's immune system, which normally functions to protect against foreign invaders, becomes hyperactive, forming antibodies that attack normal tissues and organs, including the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, lungs, and blood. Lupus is characterized by periods of illness, called flares, and periods of wellness or remission. Because its symptoms come and go and mimic those of other diseases, lupus is difficult to diagnose. There is no single laboratory test that can definitively prove that a person has the complex illness. To date, lupus has no known cause or cure. Early detection and treatment are the key to a better health outcome and can usually lessen the progression and severity of the disease. Anti-inflammatory drugs, antimalarials, and steroids (such as cortisone and others) are often used to treat lupus. Cytotoxic chemotherapies, like those used in the treatment of cancer, are also used to suppress the immune system in lupus patients. A new edition of this established and well-regarded reference combines basic science with clinical science to provide a translational medicine model. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Sixth Edition, is a useful reference for specialists in the diagnosis and management of patients with SLE, a tool for measurement of clinical activity for pharmaceutical development and basic research of the disease, and a reference work for hospital libraries. Completely updated, revised, and expanded with the most comprehensive and accessible reference on SLE for clinicians and scientists Full-color presentation throughout the book Provides the latest information available on diagnosis and treatment Incorporates an international panel of authors who are experts in their fields, with an emphasis on young, cutting-edge scientists and physicians

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that manifests with a myriad of clinical and laboratory features. The assessment of SLE is comprehensive and includes different core set domains; disease activity, damage, health-related quality of life, adverse events and economic impact. This comprehensive book is focused on the instruments and outcome measures utilized in the assessment of SLE. It targets different audiences including physicians, scientists/researchers and different health professionals interested in learning about the art of measurement in SLE. The book highlights the importance of measurement in the assessment of SLE in a clinical settings, research and clinical trials. Each of the chapters provide a systematic approach to the instruments utilized in the assessment of a specific construct in SLE (e.g., disease activity, fatigue, etc.) and incorporate a comprehensive coverage of disease specific and disease generic measures. It also discusses different patient-reported outcomes that are crucial to reflect patient perceptions of their health condition and cover constructs such as fatigue, pain, anxiety and depression, cognition, frailty, and many others.

For more than 50 years, Dubois’ Lupus Erythematosus and Related Syndromes has been recognized internationally as the go-to clinical reference on lupus and other connective tissue diseases. From basic scientific principles to practical points of clinical management, the updated 9th Edition provides extensive, authoritative coverage of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its related diseases in a logical, clearly written, user-friendly manner. It’s an ideal resource for rheumatologists and internal medicine practitioners who need a comprehensive clinical reference on all aspects of SLE, connective tissue diseases, and the antiphospholipid syndromes. Provides complete clinical coverage of every aspect of cutaneous and systemic lupus erythematosus, including definitions, pathogenesis, autoantibodies, clinical and laboratory features, management, prognosis, and patient education. Contains an up-to-date overview of significant advances in cellular, molecular, and genetic technologies, including genetic advancements in identifying at-risk patients. Offers an increased focus on the clinical management of related disorders such as Sjogren’s syndrome, scleroderma, polymyositis, and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS). Presents the knowledge and expertise of more international contributors to provide new global perspectives on manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment. Features a vibrant, full-color format, with graphs, algorithms, differential diagnosis comparisons, and more schematic diagrams throughout.

An ideal quick reference for primary care providers, specialists, and trainees, this accessible resource offers up-to-date assessment and management solutions for the entire range of rheumatologic diseases.

The scope of this contributed volume is to provide an overview of the latest translational research in the field of lupus pathogenesis, with particular emphasis on how these discoveries progress in parallel with therapeutic drug development. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multifaceted disease with a number of well-defined immune pathways that are dysregulated, resulting in an immune-mediated chronic inflammatory injury at target organs. As knowledge of these pathways evolves to provide opportunities for targeted drug therapy and lays the foundation for personalized medicine, clinicians and researchers need to keep up with the ever-expanding medical literature. This book will critically appraise the current understanding of important immunological pathways that contribute to the pathogenesis of lupus. We will review the role of interferons as part of the innate immune defects that perpetuate the loss of self-tolerance in SLE. B cell hyperactivity, as a defining hallmark of SLE, and different strategies of B cell targeted therapy will be discussed. The role of co-stimulation or immune checkpoint molecules in activating B and T cells will be reviewed, as well as other cytokines that serve in the amplification loop promoting a more proinflammatory Th1 or Th17 responses. Intracellular targets, such as signaling molecules in the JAK/STAT pathway, or a variety of kinases and proteasomes, can cause a cascading downstream effect of transcriptional responses that are important in SLE. Immune homeostasis can also be restored by bolstering the naturally occurring anti-inflammatory mechanisms. Glucocorticoid, as a potent natural anti-inflammatory hormone, can mediate its effects by recruiting histone deacetylase that serve to repress gene transcription. Glucocorticoid-induced leucine zipper is a gene upregulated by glucocorticoid that can be a potential target for development of anti-inflammatory strategy. Finally, T regulatory cells can be utilized to help restore to immune tolerance and are amongst the latest focus of therapeutic development in SLE.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Methods and Protocols describe a number of genetic, biochemical and immunological techniques. These techniques provide an advancing understanding of the pathology, breakdown of the immune system and therapeutic challenges of SLE in both humans and animal models. Written in the highly successful Methods in Molecular Biology series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible laboratory protocols and key tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls. Authoritative and practical, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Methods and Protocols appeal to biomedical and clinical scientists in a number of pathology disciplines at the doctoral and post-doctoral level.