Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease characterized by organ system damage (for example, to the skin and kidneys) and is often accompanied by fever, seizures, and malaise. The epidemiology of the disease is complex, reflecting the multiple genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors that contribute to it. Although the overall prevalence varies, the relatively high incidence among women of childbearing age (about one in a thousand) is evidence of the influence of hormonal factors, while the fact that relatives are also affected gives weight to the genetic component.
In Neuropsychiatric Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Patricia M. Moore and Robert G. Lahita bring together a multidisciplinary group of experts to explore neurological and psychiatric aspects of this disease. Topics include stress, strokes, and seizures; cerebrovascular disease; neuroendocrine aspects of systemic lupus erythematosus; and autoanitbodies and SLE.
