International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases 2015; 18: 111

LETTER FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF

Lessons from Asian lupus Debashish DANDA Editor in Chief, IJRD

Lupus in Asia is more common and different from that in the Western world. Experience in the field of lupus from South and Southeast Asian populations needs to be shared with the rest of the world. Apart from genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, ethnic, environmental, socio-economic and cultural factors also contribute to variations in presentations and outcome of this

dramatic disease, popularly known as ‘the great mimic’. The lead editor and the other guest editors have taken great efforts to compile valuable data to shape this rich special issue on lupus in Asia. I am confident that the readers will benefit from these up-to-date sources of information for a very long time to come, even in this era of changing concepts in lupus science.

© 2015 Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology and Wiley Publishing Asia Pty Ltd