Lupus SLE

What is lupus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (also called lupus) is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple systems of the body. Lupus, also known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is a long-term autoimmune disease.

The immune system mistakenly fights its own body tissues. Lupus can affect the skin, joints, kidney, brain and other organs. Symptoms vary widely, and some may overlap with other diseases that affect joint tissue.

What causes lupus?

The cause of lupus is not fully known, but there are factors that researchers believe may trigger the disease, such as genetics, infection, certain medications, or extreme physical or emotional stress. Lupus is more common in women and appears most often in people between ages 10 and 50. People of African American and Asian descent are more often affected.

What are the symptoms of lupus?

Joint pain and swelling of the fingers, hands, wrists, and knees are common. Other common symptoms include:

Chest pain
Fatigue
Fever
General discomfort
Hair loss
Mouth sores
Sensitivity to sunlight
Skin rash
Swollen lymph nodes

How is lupus diagnosed?

To be diagnosed with lupus, you must have four of the common signs and symptoms. Doctors will perform a complete physical examination and blood tests to confirm a diagnosis and rule out any other diseases. Some tests used to diagnose lupus include:

Antinuclear antibody test
Complete blood count
Chest X-ray
Serum creatinine levels
Urinalysis

How is lupus treated?

Treatment for lupus focuses on controlling pain and preventing flare-ups, where a person may feel much more tired, sick, feverish, and achy than usual. Treatment plans are dependent on the severity of the disease. Some treatment methods include: