Preface

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic multisystem inflammatory connective tissue disease with immunologic abnormalities producing autoantibody, including anti-ds (double strand)-DNA antibodies. In SLE, joint symptoms are the most common and one of the first signs.

The objective of our monograph is to integrate information on musculoskeletal and systemic pathophysiology in SLE. Although SLE is one of the rheumatic diseases, lesions extend not only to joints but to the whole body, causing inflammation in diverse organs, such as the skin, lungs, nervous system, serous membranes, kidneys and virtually all organs of the body. Therefore, patients with SLE have various presentations of disorders of organs. It is necessary to understand the findings of various organs throughout the body for proper diagnosis and treatment of patients with SLE.

Early diagnosis and treatment are required for rheumatic diseases, but early diagnosis is often difficult due to the enormous and diverse findings. Therefore, we are widely advocating a methodology called the ABCDEFGHI method as a comprehensive diagnostic approach based on the clinical, imaging, and immunological characteristics of rheumatic diseases.

The ABCDEFGHI method consists of A (Alignment): malalignment and deformation, B (Bone): bone changes, C (Capsular lesions): cartilage and intra-articular lesions, D (Distribution): four-dimensional altered distribution: 1 intra-articular, 2 intra region, 3 intra-body, 4 timeline, E (Extra-bone): extra-articular soft tissue, F (Further information): further additional medical information, G (Goal): general analysis and diagnosis, I (Integration): integrated and comprehensive diagnosis from the above data and information, H (Heal and Heath): treatment and prognosis, and I (Immunological analyzes): immunological interpretations (cytokines and immune cell phenotypes).

It is a method of making a comprehensive diagnosis by individually performing interpretations based on various symptoms, images, laboratory findings, and immunological analysis. This diagnostic procedure is being approved by medical students and evaluated from various fields.

The cases and images of patients with SLE discussed in this book are only a small part of the cases we have experienced. In the future, we would like to consider adding more cases to make the contents more complete. If there are any inadequacies in this book, we would like to receive suggestions from valuable readers. We would also be happy to receive suggestive cases and images from readers so that we can compose even better content.

I dedicate this book to my parents and my beloved Miwako and Sakura.