MedGen

A rare pulmonary disease induced by SARS-CoV coronavirus infection, with a reported incubation period varying from 2 to 7 days. Patients present flu-like symptoms, including fever, malaise, myalgia, headache, diarrhoea, and rigors. Dry, nonproductive, cough and dyspnea are frequently reported. Severe cases evolve rapidly, progressing to respiratory distress and failure, requiring intensive care. Mortality rate is 10%. The disease appeared in 2002 in southern China, subsequently spreading in 2003 to 26 countries. Reported human-to-human transmission occurred in Toronto (Canada), Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China, Chinese Taipei, Singapore, and Hanoi (Viet Nam). [from ORDO]

An autoimmune, connective tissue chronic inflammatory disorder affecting the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, and the peripheral blood cells. It is more commonly seen in women than men. Variants include discoid and systemic lupus erythematosus. [from NCI]

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by production of autoantibodies against nuclear, cytoplasmic, and cell surface molecules that transcend organ-specific boundaries. Tissue deposition of antibodies or immune complexes induces inflammation and subsequent injury of multiple organs and finally results in clinical manifestations of SLE, including glomerulonephritis, dermatitis, thrombosis, vasculitis, seizures, and arthritis. Evidence strongly suggests the involvement of genetic components in SLE susceptibility (summary by Oishi et al., 2008). Genetic Heterogeneity of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus An autosomal recessive form of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLEB16; 614420) is caused by mutation in the DNASE1L3 gene (602244) on chromosome 3p14.3. An X-linked dominant form of SLE (SLEB17; 301080) is caused by heterozygous mutation in the TLR7 gene (300365) on chromosome Xp22. See MAPPING and MOLECULAR GENETICS sections for a discussion of genetic heterogeneity of susceptibility to SLE. [from OMIM]