What is systemic lupus erythematosus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form of lupus, an autoimmune disease characterized by widespread inflammation that can affect nearly any part of the body. In SLE and other autoimmune diseases, the body inappropriately targets and creates antibodies against its own tissues (called autoantibodies).^[1] With SLE, the autoantibodies present tend to target molecules originating from the nucleus of cells. This autoantibody-driven self-attack results in acute (occurring suddenly) and/or chronic (long-lasting) damage to organs and organ systems. Other forms of lupus include cutaneous lupus, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus.