Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains a challenging medical problem. The 
integral approach to the analysis of underlying pathogenetic processes allows 
identifying main symptom complexes of SLE and establishing relationship between 
skin lesions and activity of the disease. We examined 84 patients with SLE (84% 
women), their mean age was 42.3 +/- 2.3 yr duration of SLE 6.5 +/- 1.2 yr. The 
subacute and chronic SLE variants were diagnosed in 30 (36%) and 54 (64%) 
patients respectively. Grade 1 and 2-3 inflammatory process occurred in 53 (63%) 
and 31 (37%) patients respectively. Symptom complexes "systemic inflammation", 
"butterfly rash", "wrist petechiae", "enanthema of the oral mucous membrane", 
and other lesions were regarded as the markers of SLE activity. The relationship 
of lupus-cheilitis and facial erythema with polyserositis and pericarditis 
("visceral pathology-cardiovascular lesions") requires instrumental examination 
of pericardium, pleural and abdominal cavities in the patients with the above 
skin symptoms for diagnostics of polyserositis. At the same time, the presence 
of teleangiectasia on the wrists (symptom complex "visceral 
pathology-renoparenchymatous lesions") requires thorough examination of the 
renal function. The presence of erythema at the major joints, mesh livedo, and 
Raynaud's syndrome (symptom complex "musculoskeletal disorders") implies 
specialized examination of the locomotor apparatus.