Gender Aspects in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Gender plays a profound role in the incidence of autoimmune diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is known to be much more prevalent in females than in males, but the cause of this sexual predilection has not been established. In addition, much controversy surrounds the differences in manifestations of SLE in both sexes. Male SLE has the same disease spectrum as female SLE. Raynaud phenomenon and arthritis seem to be more common in women and serositis and renal involvement in men. Clinical manifestations of SLE include the facts that females have more frequent relapses, but the incidence of severe relapses is the same in both sexes. Potential causes of the female predilection for SLE include hormonal influences and X-chromosomal dependent genetic factors.