Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can involve multiple organ systems and have various clinical manifestations. The prognosis of SLE has improved constantly over the past four decades. Improved survival is attributed to earlier diagnosis, the more judicious use of corticosteroids, the advent of immunosuppressive regimens and the advances in medical treatment in general. Also, improved survival may be due to improved outpatient management of the disease and its complications. Because of improved survival in SLE, emphasis has shifted to major causes of morbidity, which usually results in hospitalization of lupus patients such causes frequently include, infection, thrombotic events, coronary artery disease, and renal failure. Other major causes of hospitalization; medical and orthopedic complications of SLE and of its treatment deserve greater emphasis. SLE today is more disease of disability than of mortality. Much of disability occurs because of organ damage caused by disease itself or caused by or exacerbated by treatment.