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What is systemic lupus erythematosus?

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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues throughout the body.

Who does SLE affect?

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~3.4 million people worldwide are living with SLE, and almost half a million people are diagnosed each year.1

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It is the most common form of lupus (~70% of cases).2

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~90% are women, mostly of colour and usually of childbearing age.3,4

What are the signs and symptoms?

SLE causes inflammation in various parts of the body; for this reason, it can affect multiple organ systems, especially the skin, joints and kidneys.5 The initial symptoms can be non-specific and overlooked; it can take up to two to six years for an accurate diagnosis. During this time, recurring periods of increased disease activity (flares) may cause irreversible organ damage and quality of life declines.6,7

Common initial symptoms of SLE⁸

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Fatigue
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Fever
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Headaches
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Changes in weight
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Joint pain, swelling and stiffness

Many people experience anxiety (~26%) and depression (~35%), often due to the high disease and treatment burden.9

What is the outlook for people with SLE?

Treatments for SLE aim to control inflammation, reduce flares and prevent organ damage.10

Thanks to advances in our understanding of the disease and treatment approaches, many people now live with SLE as a chronic manageable disease, with a near-normal life expectancy. However, the high disease and treatment burden can negatively affect quality of life and the need for long-term monitoring and care can place a strain on individuals, families and healthcare systems.

For some people, the damage caused to major organs can lead to life-threatening complications, such as lupus nephritis.

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Around 1 in 3 adults with SLE will have lupus
nephritis at the time of diagnosis.11

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Around 50% of people will develop lupus nephritis within five years of a SLE diagnosis.1,12-15

In Lupus nephritis, the disease activity primarily affects the kidneys, posing a risk of kidney failure, where dialysis and transplant are the only treatment options. 15

By applying our long-standing expertise in immunology, we want to deliver meaningful innovation that addresses the needs of people with SLE, aiming to control disease activity and potentially delay or prevent the onset of lupus nephritis. 

References

  1. Tian J, et al. Global epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus: a comprehensive systematic analysis and modelling study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 Mar;82(3):351-56.

  2. Lupus Foundation of America [Internet; cited 2026 Feb 19]. Available from: https://www.lupus.org/resources/lupus-facts-and-statistics

  3. Siegel CH, Sammaritano LR. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Review. JAMA. 2024;331(17):1480-1491

  4. Barber MRW, et al. The global epidemiology of SLE: narrowing the knowledge gaps. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 Mar 29;62(Suppl 1):i4-9

  5. John Hopkins Medicine. Types of Lupus. [Internet; cited 2026 February 23]. Available from:  https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/lupus/types-of-lupus

  6. Nightingale AL, et al. Presentation of SLE in UK primary care using the Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Lupus Sci Med. 2017 Feb 10;4(1):e000172

  7. Kandane-Rathnayake R, et al. Association of Lupus Low Disease Activity State And Remission With Reduced Organ Damage And Flare in Systemic lupus erythematosus Patients With High Disease Activity. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2025 May 1;64(5):2741-48

  8. Cojocaru M, Cojocaru IM, Silosi I, Vrabie CD. Manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. Maedica (Bucur). 2011 Oct;6(4):330-6. PMID: 22879850; PMCID: PMC3391953.

  9. Moustafa AT, et al. Prevalence and metric of depression and anxiety in systemic lupus erythematosus: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2020;50(1):84-94. 

  10. Adamichou C, et al. Flares in systemic lupus erythematosus: diagnosis, risk factors and preventive strategies. Mediterr J Rheumatol. 2017 Mar 28;28(1):4-12

  11. Hahn BH, et al. American College of Rheumatology guidelines for screening, treatment, and management of lupus nephritis. Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2012 Jun;64(6):797-808. doi: 10.1002/acr.21664

  12. Bastian HM, et al. Systemic lupus erythematosus in three ethnic groups. XII. Risk factors for lupus nephritis after diagnosis. Lupus. 2002;11(3):152-160

  13. Mahajan A et al. Lupus 2020; 29: 1011-1020

  14. Anders HJ, et al. Mohan C. Lupus nephritis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020;6(1)

  15. Parikh SV, et al. Update on Lupus Nephritis: Core Curriculum 2020. Am J Kidney Dis. 2020;76:265-281