Figure 1.

SLE pathogenesis in four phases, increasing in SLE risk over time as patients accumulate risk factors. Changes in the immune system are detected prior to the diagnosis of clinical SLE including presence of autoantibodies, cytokines, and immune complex deposition. Some patients (illustration not representative of actual pre-clinical/clinical SLE population) will progress over time to clinical SLE while others remain in the earlier stages of preclinical SLE. Refer to Figure 2 for potential points for early risk assessment and intervention opportunities. BLyS, B-cell lymphocyte stimulator; IFN, interferon; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.