[Lupus erythematosus: from clinical aspects to immunopathology]

The author highlights some of the clinical and serological signs associated with systemic lupus erythematosus and use them as keys to enter into the most recent advances in the immunopathology of the disease, in particular the mechanisms underlying the production of pathogenic autoantibodies. He stresses that a better knowledge of the pathophysiology of the disease, combined to the progresses in basic immunology and biotechnology, has raised hopes for a more targeted immunointervention.