Oral findings of Systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, influenced by environmental and genetic factors, that affects mainly women in their second and third decades of life. The prevalenceof oral lesions in the SLE patients is variable, ranging from 6,.5% to 21%, affecting mainly tongue, buccal mucosa,lips and palate. They are characterized as chronic ulcers or erythema, of variable sizes, with periods of exacerbation and remission and variable histopathologic aspects. The aim of this study is to present an updating about SLE and its oral findings.