Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Symptoms

Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE) or “lupus” is a chronic disease that occurs when your body's immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.

Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other ailments. The most distinctive sign of lupus — a facial rash that resembles the wings of a butterfly unfolding across both cheeks — occurs in many but not all cases of lupus.

If you have lupus, you may experience periods of illness (flares) and periods of wellness (remission). Lupus flares can be mild to serious, and they are unpredictable. However, with treatment, many people with lupus can manage the disease.

Who gets lupus?

Anyone can get lupus; however, women get the disease about nine times more often than men.  Most often it happens in people between ages 15 and 45 years, but lupus can occur in childhood or later in life as well.  

Lupus is more common in African Americans than in White people and is also more common in people of American Indian and Asian descent. Men, African Americans, Chinese people, and Hispanic people are also more likely to have serious organ system involvement. If you have a family member with lupus or another autoimmune disease, you may be more likely to develop lupus. (https://www.niams.nih.gov/health-topics/lupus) 

What are the types of lupus?

SLE is the most common type of lupus, and means you have lupus throughout your body. Other types include:

• Cutaneous lupus erythematosus: Lupus that only affects your skin.
• Drug-induced lupus: Some medications trigger lupus symptoms as a side effect. It’s usually temporary and might go away after you stop taking the medication that caused it.
• Neonatal lupus: Babies are sometimes born with lupus. Babies born to biological parents with lupus aren’t certain to have lupus, but they might have an increased risk.

What are the symptoms of lupus?

Lupus causes symptoms throughout your body, depending on which organs or systems it affects. Everyone experiences a different combination and severity of symptoms.

Symptoms usually develop slowly. You might notice one or two signs of lupus at first, and then more or different symptoms later on. The most common symptoms include:

• Joint, muscle or chest pain (especially when taking a deep breath).
• Headaches
• Rashes (it’s common to have a rash across your face that providers sometimes call a butterfly rash).
• Fever
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Swollen glands
• Swelling of arms, legs or face
• Confusion
• Blood clots

Lupus can sometimes cause other health conditions or issues, including:

• Photosensitivity (sensitivity to sunlight).
• Dry eye
• Depression
• Seizure
• Anemia
• Raynaud’s syndrome
• Osteoporosis
• Heart disease
• Kidney disease (https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4875-lupus) 

See your doctor if you develop an unexplained rash, ongoing fever, persistent aching or fatigue.