- Co-morbid medical illnesses capable of causing a worsening of physical functional status independent of the diagnosis (e.g., morbid obesity), autoimmune diseases other than SLE cardiopulmonary disorders (e.g., angina, congestive heart failure, COPD(chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), chronic asthma), uncontrolled endocrine or allergic disorders (e.g., thyroid dysfunction, Type I diabetes), and malignancy within 2 years, excluding successfully treated squamous or basal skin carcinoma.