lupus er·y·the·ma·to·sus -.er-ə-.thē-mə-'tō-səs n a disorder characterized by skin inflammation esp SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS
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(LE)
a chronic inflammatory disease of connective tissue, affecting the skin and various internal organs (systemic LE, SLE). Typically, there is a red scaly rash on the face, affecting the nose and cheeks; arthritis; and progressive damage to the kidneys. Often the heart, lungs, and brain are also affected by progressive attacks of inflammation followed by the formation of scar tissue (fibrosis). In a milder form, known as discoid LE (DLE), only the skin is affected. LE is an autoimmune disease and can be diagnosed by the presence of abnormal antibodies in the bloodstream. The disease is treated with corticosteroids or immunosuppressant drugs.
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(LE) a group of connective tissue disorders primarily affecting women aged 20 to 40 years, comprising a spectrum of clinical forms in which cutaneous disease may occur with or without systemic involvement. See cutaneous l. erythematosus and systemic l. erythematosus.Medical dictionary. 2011.