Systemic lupus erythematosus

systemic lupus erythematosus
    n 1: an inflammatory disease of connective tissue with variable
         features including fever and weakness and fatigability and
         joint pains and skin lesions on the face or neck or arms
         [syn: {systemic lupus erythematosus}, {SLE}, {disseminated
         lupus erythematosus}]
    

Lupus \Lu"pus\, n. [L., a wolf. See {Wolf}.]
   1. (Med.) originally, a cutaneous disease with the appearance
      of the skin having been gnawed, and occurring under two
      distinct forms. Now used as a generic term for over ten
      distinguishable diseases having visible cutaneous
      symptoms.
      [1913 Webster +PJC]

   Note: {Lupus erythematosus} is characterized by an eruption
         of red patches, which become incrusted, leaving
         superficial scars. {Lupus vulgaris} is marked by the
         development of nodules which often ulcerate deeply and
         produce great deformity. Prior to 1900 the latter was
         often confounded with cancer, and some varieties of
         cancer were included under Lupus. {Systemic lupus
         erythematosus} is an inflammatory connective tissue
         disease occurring mostly in women, characterized by
         skin rash, fever, and arthritic symptoms, and often
         accompanied by hemolytic anemia, inflammation of the
         pericardium, glomerular lesions, and hyperglobulinemia;
         the condition shows positive in the LE cell test.
         --[Stedman]br/ [1913 Webster +PJC]

   2. (Astron.) The Wolf, a constellation situated south of
      Scorpio.
      [1913 Webster]