title: Severe major organ involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus. Diagnosis and management.
abstract: Deterioration in the function of major organs in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus may be due to causes directly related to the disease itself or to non-lupus related causes. In patients with rapidly progressive immune-mediated disease, therapy may be initiated with pulse glucocorticoids alone or in combination with pulse cyclophosphamide. For selected patients with aggressive life-threatening disease or patients refractory to treatment, experimental therapies such as plasmapheresis or intravenous immunoglobulin may be used as adjuncts in their management.
authors.affiliation: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Fessler
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Boumpas
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D009393:Nephritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors