SLE (Systemic lupus erythematosus) is a fairly common yet often missed disease seen predominantly in females specially of childbearing age. It is generally believed that more than five million people across the world suffer from SLE Practically every organ of the body can get involved in a patient suffering from this autoimmune disorder in which body's own immunity starts working against its own self.

Therefore the medical fraternity all over the world 16 years ago decided to celebrate world lupus day on 10th of May every year to spread awareness about the disease. There is a different theme every year & this year the theme was emotional support to the patients and promoting more clinical trials to better understand the disease.

In SLE, the skin gets involved and the patient gets rashes over the face, mouth ulcerations, hair loss, joint pains and also more serious involvement involving the kidneys lungs, liver, heart and the brain. At times the patient has only non specific features such as fever and generalized weakness and so very often the diagnosis gets missed or delayed considerably. When the Kidneys get involved in a patient with SLE it is called lupus nephritis & this happens in good 60- 70% of the SLE patients, the manifestations range from mild protein excretion in the urine to very advanced kidney failure requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. Early diagnosis and awareness about the disease has made a huge difference in the outcomes.

In their endeavour to contribute towards the cause in whatever little way, the department of nephrology and transplant medicine at Max super speciality hospital Saket New Delhi organised an update on lupus nephritis on 10th May on the occasion of world kidney day at India Habitat Centre New Delhi. Many prominent and senior nephrologist from across the country gathered to deliberate on the latest in the field of lupus nephritis.The proceedings were web streamed to many other places across the country.

On this occasion a book on lupus nephritis -pathogenesis to current management edited by Dr Dinesh Khullar,Chairman Nephrology and Renal Transplant Medicine, Max Super Speciality Hospital Saket New Delhi was launched. Some of the top nephrologists of the country have contributed by way of chapters in the book which should prove to be very useful for clinicians to brush up their knowledge about the latest in the field of lupus nephritis so as to help them in managing their patients suffering from this disease more effectively. The clinical outcomes have fastly improved over the last few decades but still lot needs to be done.