Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the development of a deep learning system called DeepSLE for detecting systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) from retinal images, highlighting its potential to improve early diagnosis and management of the disease and its complications [4][5][12]. Group 1: Disease Overview - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a severe autoimmune disease affecting approximately 3.4 million people globally, with an estimated 3 million being women [2]. - The likelihood of women developing SLE is several times higher than that of men, with a peak incidence typically occurring between the ages of 15 and 45 [2]. Group 2: Screening Challenges - There is a significant challenge in the early detection of SLE due to the lack of widely accepted, standardized, non-invasive, and cost-effective screening tools, especially for asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic individuals [3]. - Current screening methods for SLE-related complications, such as lupus retinopathy (LR) and lupus nephritis (LN), are not routinely implemented in primary care settings, particularly in resource-limited environments [7]. Group 3: DeepSLE Development - The DeepSLE system was developed using a dataset of 666,383 retinal images from 173,346 participants for pre-training, followed by training and validation on over 254,246 images from 91,598 participants across diverse ethnic backgrounds [9]. - The system demonstrated a robust performance in detecting SLE, achieving an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) ranging from 0.822 to 0.969 in a multi-ethnic validation dataset [11]. Group 4: Clinical Implications - DeepSLE offers a digital solution for detecting SLE and its related complications from retinal images, presenting significant clinical application potential [12]. - The system showed higher sensitivity compared to primary care physicians in a prospective reader study, indicating its effectiveness in clinical settings [11].

Core Viewpoint - Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can lead to multi-organ damage and significantly increase mortality risk, particularly among women of childbearing age in China, where there are over 1 million lupus patients [1][2]. Group 1: Disease Characteristics - SLE is characterized by a "female predominance" with a male-to-female ratio of 1:12, closely linked to estrogen levels [2]. - The disease has two peak age groups: around 15 years during puberty and between 30-45 years during childbearing years, where hormonal fluctuations can exacerbate the condition [2]. - Environmental factors, such as UV exposure and pollutants, are significant triggers for SLE [2]. Group 2: Diagnosis and Symptoms - Early detection and diagnosis are crucial to prevent progression to severe lupus, which has a high mortality rate [3]. - Key warning signs include butterfly-shaped rashes, recurrent oral ulcers, photosensitivity, unexplained joint pain, hair loss, and nail changes [3]. - Regular check-ups, including tests for anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies and antinuclear antibodies, are recommended for asymptomatic individuals [3]. Group 3: Treatment Goals and Strategies - The primary treatment goal for lupus is organ protection, alongside controlling disease activity and minimizing drug toxicity [5]. - Current treatment strategies emphasize individualized care, with a focus on early diagnosis and treatment to achieve stable disease status with minimal medication [4][5]. - The use of biological agents has marked a significant advancement in treatment, allowing for reduced steroid use and lower relapse rates [5]. - It is essential to avoid overtreatment, particularly with steroids and immunosuppressants, to mitigate the risk of severe infections, which are a leading cause of death in lupus patients [5].