This patient has longstanding SLE with quiescent disease activity currently. She has a history of fetal loss and blood clots while pregnant previously. She is seeking contraceptive options other than barrier methods. Given her history of APL antibodies and blood clots, progesterone-only contraceptives like the progesterone IUD or depot medroxyprogesterone would be safest options to avoid estrogen which could increase her risk for further clotting issues.

1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Vivian Stone, MD
Virginia Mason Medical Center

2. Lupus
– Multisystem, inflammatory autoimmune disease
with diverse manifestations
– Chronic, remitting and relapsing clinical course
– Associated with autoantibody production against
components of the cell nucleus
– Development of immune-complexes that cause
injury to skin, joints and serosal membranes

3. Forms of Lupus
• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
• Chronic Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
– Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)
– Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (SCLE)
• Drug-induced Lupus

4. Epidemiology
• Primarily a disease of woman
– Female:male ratio of 9:1 during childbearing age,
but 2:1 during childhood or after 65
• Prevalence ~1:2000 people in the US
– Up to 1:700 in women of childbearing age
• More common in AA
– 1:1000 white women
– 1:250 AA women

5. Genetics
• Higher frequency in first degree relatives
• Occurs concordantly in 25%-50% monozygotic
twins and in 5% of dizygotic twins
• Polygenetic
– More common in pts with complement deficiency
– HLA association (DR and DG loci)

6. Lupus pathogenesis
•Multiple immunologic abnormalities and loss of self-tolerance
•Dysregulated activation of T and B cell lymphocytes
•Autoantibody production and immune complex formation resulting in tissue damage
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Basic, Applied and Clinical Aspects
2016, Pages 273-279

7. Genes associated with SLE
Tsokos, NEJM 2011

8. IFNs and SLE
•  IFNa levels seen in serum of SLE patients
• Treatment with Type 1 IFNs in humans has led
to lupus-like illness
• “Interferon signature” is seen in many SLE
patients in microarray analysis
• IFN response genes are  in SLE patients

10. Autoantibodies in Autoimmune Disease
• ANA – best screening test for SLE
– + in significant titer (1:160 or higher) in almost all SLE pts
– Titers of 1:40 seen in 20% of healthy controls
– Titers of 1:320 seen in 3% of healthy controls
• dsDNA → SLE
• Smith ab → SLE
• Anti-histone → Drug-induced SLE
• Anti-RNP → MCTD (high titer),
SLE
• Anti-Ro, La → SLE or Sjogrens
• Scl-70 (topoisomerase) → Systemic Sclerosis
• Anticentromere → CREST

11. 4/11
criteria
needed to
dx SLE

15. Clinical manifestations – initial/ever
• Constitutional 50% / 70-100%
• Arthritis/Arthralgia 65% / 85-95%
• Skin 73% / 80-90%
• Renal 16-38% / 34-73%
• Pleurisy 17% / 30-45%
• Pericarditis 8% / up to 48%
• CNS 12-21% / 25-75%

16. Clinical manifestations
• Photosensitivity
– Skin rash secondary to UV light
– Feeling “flu-like” in the sun
– Counsel sun protection!
• Oral ulcers
– Oral or nasopharyngeal
– Usually PAINLESS

17. Malar Rash
Fixed erythema, flat or raised, over the malar eminences,
tending to spare the nasolabial folds

18. Differential Diagnosis?

19. Discoid Rash
• Erythematous raised patches with adherent
keratotic scaling and follicular plugging
• Often involve head and neck

20. Discoid rash – hyper and hypo-
pigmented plaques

21. Arthritis – most common presenting
symptom in SLE
• Usually non-erosive
• Tenderness and swelling common with
effusions
• Pain may be out of proportion to degree of
inflammation seen on exam

22. Jacoud’s arthropathy
• Deforming, but non-erosive form of
arthropathy seen in SLE patients

23. CNS lupus
• Only 2 manifestations are included in the ACR SLE
criteria, more in the newer classification criteria
– Seizures
– Psychosis
• More common in patients with APLS
• CSF findings often nonspecific
– Mild pleocytosis and protein elevation in seen in up to 60%
• Most common MRI finding – small white matter
lesions
• Acute vasculitis is RARELY seen on angiography

25. Serositis
• Pleuritis
– Convincing hx of pleuritic pain
– Rub heard by a physician
– Evidence of a pleural effusion
• Pericarditis
– EKG
– Rub
– Pericardial effusion

26. Hematologic
• Leukopenia or lymphopenia
• Hemolytic anemia
– Warm hemolytic anemia
– Coomb’s positive
• Thrombocytopenia, ITP, TTP
• Elevated ESR/CRP
• Lupus anticoagulant (prolonged PTT, RVVT)

27. Libman Sacks Endocarditis

28. Antiphospholipid syndrome
• Venous and arterial thrombosis
• Placental insufficiency leading to fetal loss
• Thrombocytopenia can be seen
• Lab testing (+ test 2x checked at least 6-8wks apart)
– Lupus anticoagulant (PTT and RVVT) – biggest risk of
thrombosis
– False positive serologic testing for syphilis
– Anticardiolipin ab
– Beta2 glycoprotein ab
• Treatment – anticoagulate if hx of clotting
• ? Hydroxychloroquine, ? bASA

29. Question
• A 23 y/o man is evaluated during a f/u visit.
One month ago was dx with SLE, treatment
with pred 20mg was initiated with partial
improvement in joint pain and swelling. He
now report oral ulcers, ankle swelling, fatigue,
nausea and low grade fever.
• On physical, temp is 38.1, BP 146/92, pulse
102, RR 18. Raised malar erythema present.
He has an erythematous ulceration on the
hard palate. MSK exam reveals synovitis of
PIP and knees, bil pitting edema bil ankles

30. Question
Laboratory studies:
• Hemoglobin 9.1 g/dL
• Leukocyte count 3900/µL
• ESR 102 mm/h
• C3 Decreased
• C4 Decreased
• ANA Titer of 1:640 homogenous
• antidsDNA Positive
• UA 3+ protein, 4-6 RBC, 4-6 WBC,
no casts
• 24 hr urine 1.1 g prot/24 hrs

31. Which of the following is the most
appropriate next step in management?
A IV cyclophosphomide
B Kidney Biopsy
C MR angiography of the renal arteries
D Mycophenolate mofetil

32. Which of the following is the most
appropriate next step in management?
A IV cyclophosphomide
B Kidney Biopsy
C MR angiography of the renal arteries
D Mycophenolate mofetil

33. Lupus nephritis
• Develops during the first year in 50% of lupus
patients
• Occurs in 50% of white and 75% of AA pts
• Clinical features at diagnosis
– PROTEINURIA in almost all cases (nephrotic
syndrome rare)
– Hematuria
– Renal insufficiency
– +ANA, +dsDNA, decreased complements
– Usually ASYMPTOMATIC

34. Lupus Nephritis

35. Lupus Nephritis

36. Diffuse Proliferative Nephritis
• characterized by endocapillary proliferation caused by
immune complex deposits involving > 50% of glomeruli in a
biopsy specimen.

37. Membranous Nephritis
• chronic immune complex deposition results in mesangial
proliferation and glomerular basement membrane thickening

38. Lupus nephritis
• Worst prognosis in Class III or IV disease
• Requires aggressive immunosuppression to
prevent renal damage
– High dose steroids
– Cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate
– Tacrolimus add-on if not a complete response
• Class III or IV associated with HTN
– treat with ACE-I

39. Drug-induced Lupus
• Lupus-like syndrome that develops after exposure
to a variety of drugs
– Hydralazine
– Procainamide
– Isoniazide
– Methyldopa
– Quinidine
– Penicillamine
– Phyenotoin
– Sulfanimides, etc, etc, etc

40. Drug-induced Lupus
• +ANA, +++histone, neg dsDNA
• Constitutional sx common
– Malaise, low grade fever, myalgia
• Arthralgia
• Usually <4/11 ACR criteria
• Dermatologic, renal and CNS manifestations
RARELY occur
• Disease rapidly remits after w/d of drug, but ab
can persist for 6mo-1 yr

41. TNF-Induced SLE
• + ANA in ~15% of patient treated with anti-
TNF agents
• +dsDNA, and +anti-histone ab can be seen
• Skin involvement most common sx
• Can also have renal dz, serositis and CNS dz
• Symptoms usually remit with d/c of drug
• Occasionally additional immunosuppression is
needed for severe cases

42. Treatment
• PLAQUENIL (hydroxychloroquine)
– Useful especially in skin and MSK manifestations
– Helps prevent more severe manifestations (lower
rates of renal dz, sz in pts treated with Plaquenil)
– Has antithrombotic effects (useful to prevent clots in
SLE pts with APL abs)
– Lipid lowering effects
• Dose 200-400mg daily – ophtho guidelines
5mg/kg max dose for chronic use
• Monitoring – yearly eye exam for retinal toxicity,
very low risk.

43. Treatment of SLE – other agents
• Prednisone
• Cyclophosphomide – for severe manifestations
• Mycophenolate – first line for renal disease in
most cases
• Azathioprine
• Methotrexate – esp for arthritis
• Belimumab –> effect modest. Benefit may not
outweight cost – other than prednisone and HCQ,
the only FDA approved treatment of lupus.
• Rituximab
• Tacrolimus

44. Vitamin D and lupus
• Low vit D associated with higher disease
activity in lupus
• Higher vit D levels associated with improved
proteinuria.
• Treat to target to 40 ng/ml.

45. Question
• A 45-year-old woman is admitted to the hospital for
evaluation of a 6-week history of progressive, dull chest
pressure associated with mild dyspnea and nausea. At
onset, the chest pain occurred during physical exertion
(housework) and was relieved by rest within 5 minutes. For
the past several days, the patient has had similar episodes
that occurred with minimal activity, such as walking, and
also at rest, including an episode this morning, which she
described as 8/10 in severity of the pain and lasted for 10
to 15 minutes. The chest discomfort is not pleuritic or
positional and is not related to eating. She has
hypertension, treated for the past 6 years, and systemic
lupus erythematosus for 24 years, with a history of
pericarditis, arthritis, and a photosensitive facial rash. Her
medications include prednisone, hydroxychloroquine,
aspirin, and enalapril.

46. Question
• On physical examination, she is afebrile, blood
pressure is 132/78 mm Hg, pulse is 86/min,
and respiration rate is 18/min. Oxygen
saturation on ambient air is 98%. BMI is 25.
Her lungs are clear to auscultation. Estimated
central venous pressure is normal; there is no
Kussmaul sign or hepatojugular reflux. Cardiac
auscultation reveals regular rhythm with
normal S1 and S2 and no murmur, rub, or
gallop.

47. Question
Laboratory studies
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate 39 mm/h
• Creatine kinase 65 U/L
• Creatine kinase MB fraction 3%
• Troponin normal
• Electrocardiogram demonstrates sinus rhythm, with a
rate of 92/min. There are symmetric T-wave inversions
in leads V1 through V4; there is no ST-segment
depression or elevation. Chest radiograph shows a
normal cardiac silhouette with no infiltrate or edema.

48. Which of the following diagnostic tests is most
appropriate at this time?
A Coronary angiography
B Exercise stress echocardiogram
C High-sensitivity C-reactive protein level
D Transthoracic echocardiography

49. Which of the following diagnostic tests is most
appropriate at this time?
A Coronary angiography
B Exercise stress echocardiogram
C High-sensitivity C-reactive protein level
D Transthoracic echocardiography

50. Complications from SLE
• Major cause of death in SLE patients is
accelerated atherosclerosis (mortality from MI
10x greater in SLE patients)
• Autopsy studies show severe atherosclerosis
in 40% of SLE patients compares with 2% of
age and sex matched controls.
• Monitor weight, HTN, HL, tobacco, and DM

51. Atherosclerosis in SLE, RA and controls
Roman et al Circulation 2007

52. Question
• A 22 y/o woman seeks preconception counseling and
treatment of recently diagnosed SLE. She reports
fatigue and hand pain with morning stiffness 15 min.
• On Exam, VS normal. + malar erythema. TTP bil PIP,
no other synovitis.
• Labs
– WBC 3.3
– C3 normal
– C4 decreased
– Creat normal
– UA normal
– ANA 1:160, homogenous.
– Anti-dsDNA positive
– Anti-cardiolipin ab positive

53. Which of the following is the most appropriate
treatment?
A Azathioprine
B Hydroxychloroquine
C Mycophenolate Mophetil
D Prednisone
E No treatment at this time

54. Which of the following is the most appropriate
treatment?
A Azathioprine
B Hydroxychloroquine
C Mycophenolate Mophetil
D Prednisone
E No treatment at this time

55. SLE and pregnancy
• Timing of pregnancy
– Healthy mother, healthy pregnancy, healthy baby
• Lupus should be under control prior to attempting pregnancy
• Some patients should be advised against pregnancy
– Hx of severe SLE with now renal insuff, proteinuria.
• Testing prior to pregnancy
– APL ab
– SSA, SSB ab
• Fetal heart block in 1%
– UA, complement levels
• High risk OB
• Treatments
– Hydroxychloroquine – safe throughout pregnancy
– Steroids
– For more serious manifestation – AZA, tac or cyclosporine ok

56. Question
• A 38 y/o woman is evaluated during routine f/u
for a 20 yr hx of SLE. In recent years, disease
acitivity has been quiescent. She currently
reports fatigue, alopecia, and occ hand arthralgia.
She seeks advice about contraception options
other than barrier methods
• The patient was also recently diagnosed with
osteoporosis. She had a 22-week fetal loss during
her first pregnancy, followed by 3 successful
pregnancies while taking ASA and enoxaparin.
Current meds: HCQ, low dose prednisone,
alendronate, calcium/D
• On PE, VS normal. Tenderness MCPs and PIPs
bilaterally

57. Question
Laboratory studies:
• CBC Normal
• Complements Normal
• Creat Normal
• ANA Titer of 1:320 homogenous
• Anti-cardiolipin Positive
• Lupus anticoag Positive
• UA Normal

58. Which of the following is the most appropriate
contraceptive method for this patient?
A Combination estrogen-progesterone OCP
B Etonogestrelethinyl estradiol vaginal ring
C IM medroprogesterone acetate
D Progesterone-containing IUD

59. Which of the following is the most appropriate
contraceptive method for this patient?
A Combination estrogen-progesterone OCP
B Etonogestrelethinyl estradiol vaginal ring
C IM medroprogesterone acetate
D Progesterone-containing IUD

60. Take home points
• Lupus gives a pattern of symptoms – recognize
pattern to make the diagnosis, do not rely on
labs alone.
• Prevent problems in SLE
– Monitor kidneys for proteinuria!
– Use HCQ in all SLE patients
– Screen for vit D deficiency
– Screen and manage for CV risk factors early!

61. Questions?