Medical expert of the article
New publications
Classification of systemic lupus erythematosus
Last reviewed: 07.07.2025
All iLive content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.
We have strict sourcing guidelines and only link to reputable media sites, academic research institutions and, whenever possible, medically peer reviewed studies. Note that the numbers in parentheses ([1], [2], etc.) are clickable links to these studies.
If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please select it and press Ctrl + Enter.
The nature of the course and degree of activity of systemic lupus erythematosus are established in accordance with the classification of V.A. Nasonova (1972-1986).
The nature of the course is determined taking into account the severity of the onset, the time of the onset of generalization of the process, the characteristics of the clinical picture and the rate of progression of the disease. There are 3 variants of the course of systemic lupus erythematosus:
- acute - with a sudden onset, rapid generalization and formation of a polysyndromic clinical picture, including damage to the kidneys and/or central nervous system, high immunological activity and often an unfavorable outcome in the absence of treatment;
- subacute - with a gradual onset, later generalization, wave-like nature with the possible development of remissions and a more favorable prognosis;
- primary chronic - with a monosyndromic onset, late and clinically asymptomatic generalization and a relatively favorable prognosis.
In children, acute and subacute course of systemic lupus erythematosus is observed in most cases.
The following clinical and immunological variants of the disease are distinguished.
[ Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
A subtype of systemic lupus erythematosus characterized by widespread papulosquamous and/or anular polycyclic skin rashes and photosensitivity with a relative rarity of severe nephritis or CNS involvement. The serological marker of this disease is antibodies (AT) to Ro/SSA.
Neonatal lupus
C syndrome, including erythematous rash, complete heart block and/or other systemic manifestations, which may be noted in neonates of mothers suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus, Sjögren's disease, other rheumatic diseases, or clinically asymptomatic mothers whose serum contains antibodies (IgG) to nuclear ribonucleoproteins (Ro/SSA or La/SSB). Cardiac involvement may be detected already at birth.
Drug-induced lupus
It is characterized by clinical and laboratory signs similar to idiopathic systemic lupus erythematosus and develops in patients during treatment with certain medications: antiarrhythmic (procainamide, quinidine), antihypertensive (hydralazine, methyldopa, captopril, enalapril, atenolol, labetalol, prazosin, etc.), psychotropic (chlorpromazine, perphenazine, chlorprothixene, lithium carbonate), anticonvulsants (carbamazepine, phenytoin, etc.), antibiotics (isoniazid, minocycline), anti-inflammatory (penicillamine, sulfasalazine, etc.), diuretics (hydrochlorothiazide, chlorthalidone), lipid-lowering (lovastatin, simvastatin), etc.
Paraneoplastic lupus-like syndrome
It has clinical and laboratory signs characteristic of systemic lupus erythematosus and can develop in patients with malignant neoplasms. It is extremely rare in children.
Использованная литература