Systemic lupus erythematosus, often abbreviated as
SLE or
lupus, is a
systemic autoimmune disease (or
autoimmune connective tissue disease) in which the body’s
immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. There are many kinds of
lupus. The most common type is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which affects many internal organs in the body. SLE most often harms the
heart,
joints,
skin,
lungs,
blood vessels,
liver,
kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called
flare-ups) alternating with
remissions.