Familial Aggregation of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Coaggregation of Autoimmune Diseases in Affected Families

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the prototype autoimmune disease with features of autoantibody production, immune complex deposition, and multiple target organ damage. The disease can affect any part of the body,¹ and the course of the disease is diverse and unpredictable.² The prevalence of SLE ranges from 0.02% to 0.15%.³ Our group estimated that the prevalence of SLE was 0.10% in the United Kingdom⁴ and 0.07% in Taiwan.⁵