Musculoskeletal · UKMLA & AKT

Systemic lupus erythematosus

A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test. Below are the key points to recognise systemic lupus erythematosus — the full SA Note notes add investigations, management, complications and 10 practice questions.

Key high-yield points

  • Chronic relapsing-remitting autoimmune disease - immune complex deposition across multiple organ systems
  • Female:male ratio 9:1; peak onset 15-45 years; higher severity in Afro-Caribbean patients
  • Key mechanism: defective apoptotic debris clearance → autoantibody production (anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm) → immune complex deposition → complement consumption → tissue injury

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