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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus : Definition
   
Western Medicine Chinese Medicine
 
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, inflammatory disorder of connective tissue that usually arises without obvious cause and is regarded as an autoimmune disease. It affects many different organ systems of the body and varies in severity between patients and, over time, within the same patient.

Typical features of SLE are a symmetrical red rash to the face, arthritis and progressive damage to the kidneys.

 

 
 
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect the joints and many organs of the body, commonly the skin and kidneys. The disease course can range from mildly episodic to severe, and can be fatal. Symptoms vary from individual to individual and are characterized by remission and exacerbation. The complex presentation of the disease can make diagnosis difficult.

No definitive term exists for SLE in the ancient Chinese medical classics. Individuals are diagnosed with different syndromes according to the presentation of symptoms and are treated according to the disharmony patterns displayed under these syndromes.

Symptoms of fever and skin rash are diagnosed as yin-yang poisoning, Prurigo, itching dermatitis of the face, cheek sores and solar dermatitis syndromes.
Joint pain, muscle pain and Raynaud's phenomenon are classified as bi-syndrome.
Heart involvement, causing symptoms of palpitations and shortness of breath, is referred to as palpitation syndrome.
Nervous system symptoms are grouped as hysteria syndrome.
Symptoms resulting from multiple asthenia syndromeorgan systems involvement are classified as . This can then lead to consumptive disease.
Kidney involvement is defined as kidney deficiency.

The kidneys are very important in TCM and are considered (as in Western medicine) to be commonly involved in SLE.

As SLE is a disease that can affect the whole body and involve several organs, different syndromes or disharmony patterns may occur at the same time and present a multiplicity of symptoms.