In light of all the severe symptoms associated with lupus, swallowing problems might seem too trivial to mention to your doctor. Remember that treating symptoms early, before they become acute and widespread, is best way to control the disease and prevent damage to major organs. Sometimes your throat is just sore, and a cough drop will fix it. But there are also times when pain and a thick feeling in the throat are signs of a serious infection.

Lupus is part of a larger group of diseases known as “autoimmune deficiencies,” or “immune disorders.” Diseases in this category share a distinctive feature: they describe conditions under which the body’s own natural defenses will attack healthy tissue. Because lupus is a kind of malfunction of the immune system, the body is left vulnerable to passing viruses or bacteria – especially in cases where the lupus patient is taking corticosteroid drugs such as Prednisone, which suppress the immune…

The news is hard to hear: your systemic lupus has developed additional complications. But while it is true that lupus vasculitis symptoms do have the potential to become life-threatening, that’s just one possible outcome, and it isn’t guaranteed.

You probably noticed odd reddish spots on your skin, first.  Maybe you felt like you had the flu – feverish, achy and constantly tired. Symptoms like these are very common with vasuclitis, but before making a final diagnosis, the doctor will order blood tests that study the movement of your red blood cells, show the number of red and white blood cells in your body, and determine whether there are certain antibodies (molecules created to attack viruses or bacteria) in your bloodstream.

Your lupus vasculitis symptoms developed because the original disease – systemic lupus – inflamed various tissues in your body. Vasculitis actually begins as an immune system response; antibodies are produced and sent, in groups of special…

With autoimmune diseases like lupus, viruses and infections are almost inevitable; the immune system perceives healthy tissue as a threat and does not deal with invading organisms as effectively. The body, already damaged and weakened, has no way to defend itself. Additionally, the medications commonly prescribed to treat lupus do so by targeting the immune system itself – a solution that presents certain inevitable dangers.

It’s important to understand that lupus itself is not a virus. It is not something one person can “catch” from another, or develop through exposure to a certain kind of environment. It’s like the immune system gets confused: it begins to produce cells and chemicals that attack healthy tissue, for reasons doctors don’t entirely understand.  Until the immune system is set right, it can’t protect the body properly. That is why, once a person develops lupus, viruses and infections of all types become especially dangerous. Sores and open wounds must be cleansed…

An autoimmune disease can be a source of extreme discomfort – lupus wrist pain, lupus breast pain and similar lupus-related aches can occur in joint or soft-tissue areas throughout the body. Although a patient can develop wrist or breast pain for a variety of reasons, lupus generally causes pain in these areas as a result of inflammation. In rare instances, a secondary disease that causes abnormal cellular growth can also cause pain.

One of the first signs of lupus is inflammation. It can happen in muscle tissue, causing deep and lasting aches, as well as heat and swelling. It is also likely to occur in the thin lining that covers the spaces in between the joints. As the lining becomes swollen, it compresses the necessary space between the bones and in some areas, a type of fluid-filled sac meant to provide additional cushion. Sometimes, chemicals are released that can break down the bone itself, or the nearby sturdy connective tissue…

It isn’t just the heart and lungs that feel the effects of the disease. With lupus, acid reflux is very common, as is nausea and other gastrointestinal disorders.  Inflammation in the esophagus – the muscular tube that begins as the throat and runs down to the stomach – will cause the mechanisms which ensure stomach acid stays in the stomach to function less effectively.  It should be noted that acid with acute stomach pain is evidence of a more serious problem and should be immediately reported to a physician.

Acid reflux is typically caused by weak muscles in the esophagus and hiatal hernia – a condition in which the stomach has shifted upward, so that part of it is in the chest. The problem in either case is really with the muscular sphincter that guards the opening to the stomach. This sphincter acts as a gate, keeping the contents of the stomach from washing back up…

The eyes and the ribs can share a unique response to lupus: eye pain – and the comparable link between lupus and rib pain – sometimes reveals a particular type of inflammation. Though muscle and joint aches are more common (and more often the subject of discussion,) pain around the eyes and in the chest cavity can be excruciating and will always require medical evaluation.

Inflammation in the eye area can produce dryness, a burning sensation, persistent itch, redness, irritation and gritty scratching. Pain in the ribs, at its most acute, is sharp, stabbing sensation when the patient takes a breath. This article will focus on two conditions in particular; however, it’s important to note that there are many possible causes for pain in eyes or ribs. Physicians consider the patient’s health history, various test results and symptoms before making a diagnosis.

Lupus and Eye Pain

Eye problems in lupus patients can…

Though it’s one of the lesser-known symptoms of lupus, blurred vision is a common problem for lupus patients. The same deficiency that drives the immune system to attack healthy muscle and organ tissue can damage the delicate structure of the eye, producing different symptoms depending on the area affected and the level of damage.

Although lupus symptoms can occur in any part of the body, in about 20% of cases, the eye and surrounding tissues, vessels and nerves are targeted. Inflammation and damage from immune system antibodies (cells designed to fight disease) may cause white spots or blurring in the vision, excessive dryness, infection, pain and rarely, complete loss of eyesight. Inflammation may also make the white of the eye – the sclera – painful, red and sensitive to light, a condition called scleritis.

Sjogren’s syndrome, a secondary immune disease than can develop in patients with lupus, hampers the body’s ability to make tears; it is…

Although it can damage the lungs, not all lung issues can be blamed on lupus: COPD, or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is a cigarette smoker’s illness. Lupus requires a complicated treatment plan that could include dietary restrictions, a regimented sleep and exercise schedule and medications with a long list of potential side effects. It is not known what causes lupus, nor is lupus easy to control. COPD, however, is completely preventable – and need not cause a lupus patient additional suffering.

COPD is a broad term that includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. It is nearly always due to cigarette smoking, and those who have it won’t necessarily feel the effects; out of every 100 long-term smokers, only about 15-20 will show COPD symptoms. These include inflammation of the breathing tubes, excess mucus production, a chronic cough, damage to the alveoli (air sacs) in the lungs and a reduced ability to absorb oxygen and exhale carbon dioxide, limited…

Doctors aren’t sure why, but for most people with lupus, exhaustion is a primary symptom. Lupus patients describe this fatigue as an overwhelming weight, total-body weakness or a constant desire to sleep. It can interfere with daily activities, ruin work and social routines and even make it difficult to get out of bed in the morning. This is not laziness, or an attempt to avoid responsibility; it is a documented result of the immunodeficiency.

Secondary diseases can develop in addition to lupus, which display similar symptoms. Fibromyalgia is the most common, occurring in about 30% of patients: as with lupus, exhaustion is a key component, along with chronic pain, weakness, thought and memory problems and non-restorative sleep. Rheumatoid arthritis, another condition involving fatigue and chronic pain, is often confused with lupus and can also appear as a secondary condition.

Once a patient reports experiencing extreme fatigue, the physician will do a full evaluation including questions about eating,…

Recurrent symptoms are especially significant in patients with lupus, eye pain included.  Depending on the type of autoimmune damage caused by the disease, the eyes can be dry, red, irritated and itchy, scratched or clouded by lesions or abnormal cell growth or surrounded by irritated or misformed tissue.  Pain can result from damage to the nerves, especially the optic nerve, which transmits visual information to the brain; pain can also be due to secondary immune disorders that develop along with the lupus.

Generally, when people say “lupus,” they mean systemic lupus erythematosus, which is the most common form of the disease. It is possible to have a type of lupus that only affects the skin, called “discoid lupus erythematosus.” Eye problems with discoid lupus are usually in the lids and surrounding skin, things like scarring, scaly roughness or small bumps.

A small percentage of people will have trouble with scleritis, named for the white part of…

The current American College of Rheumatology list of lupus indicators, last updated in 1997, began as a way to study the progression of the disease. The eleven criteria are so clearly presented that the list has become the established method all doctors use to diagnose lupus. For a formal diagnosis, at least four of the eleven symptoms must be present – although patients can have fewer than four and still have lupus.

Some of these symptoms are easy to recognize, while others can only be identified through specialized medical tests. The criteria on the list aren’t organized from mildest symptoms to worst, and a patient could develop any of them at any time.

1. Malar Rash. Also called a “butterfly rash,” it forms over the nose and cheekbones and is one of the first signs a patient has lupus.
2. Discoid Rash. The rash spreads to other parts of the face, neck and shoulders, particularly if the skin is exposed to

…

There is evidence to suggest that, even without immunosuppressant drugs, lupus patients are more prone to respiratory infections. Certainly lupus respiratory problems involving the lungs and surrounding membranes are more likely as the disease progresses. Symptoms of respiratory inflammation and infection can be as simple as a stuffy nose and sore throat, or severe enough to make breathing painful and difficult. Treatment for the illness will depend on the underlying cause, which could be lupus, an invading virus, or even a side effect of certain medications.

“Respiratory” refers to breathing – and the respiratory tract is the system that makes breathing possible. Infections can happen throughout the system, or be confined to the upper or lower parts of it. The upper respiratory tract includes the nose, mouth, throat and sinuses; infections there take the form of colds and flu, with the usual unpleasant symptoms. They are mostly viral, and spread from person to person through direct…

It isn’t difficult to believe there’s a connection between lupus and nerve pain. The difficulty lies in isolating the type of nerve responsible for the problem. There are lots of different nerve cell (or “neuron”) categories, and each type has a specific job. All nerves, however, can be grouped by location into two overall categories:

1. The Central Nervous System (CNS). This includes the brain and spinal cord. Like the name suggests, the CNS functions as a main switchboard, receiving and transmitting information electrically and chemically along nerve cells throughout the body. The spinal cord bundles the nerve endings and plugs them into the brain, which serves as an interpreter and as a commander, receiving input from the senses and ordering the body to respond.
2. The Peripheral Nervous System (PNS).  If it isn’t part of the brain and spinal cord, the nerve is peripheral (literally: “outside,” or “beyond.”) Peripheral nerve cells are in every kind

…

The bones themselves can feel pain, and unfortunately, lupus bone pain is usually a sign that a serious secondary disease is also developing in the body. Osteoporosis, a condition caused by the rapid reduction of calcium and other vital minerals, is painful, debilitating and causes permanent damage to the bones. The name perfectly describes the disease itself: “osteo” (bone) and “porosis” (porous, full of holes.)

The bones that see frequent, hard use – those in the wrist and hip and the vertebrae that make up the spine – are most likely to fracture as a result of osteoporosis, although the disease can make any bone in the body weak enough to easily shatter. Initially, there is no pain; as the loss of bone mass increases, pain will develop, most often an acute pain in the back, usually in combination with a bent, weak spine and a reduction in height.

Osteoporosis isn’t specific to lupus, but it…

Simply put, lupus dementia refers to a condition involving varying degrees of central nervous system damage. Although it is not necessarily permanent or debilitating, sle dementia is very different from the everyday confusion and occasionally unreliable memory that patients refer to as “lupus fog.”

Lupus fog (or as doctors call it, “cognitive dysfunction” or “cognitive impairment”) tends to come and go, and along with incidences of memory loss, can cause confusion, fatigue, problems with concentration and an inability to properly express thoughts out loud. It may well be an indication that lupus dementia will develop later on, but cognitive impairment does not meet the clinical criteria for dementia.

The term “dementia” is a broad title that covers any steady decline in a person’s ability to reason, remember, problem solve or learn. True dementia makes everyday living and normal activities nearly impossible. In addition to cognitive (mental) issues, dementia can cause unstable or depressed moods; a patient may…

It isn’t just physicians that treat lupus-related injuries. Dentists should also be at least somewhat familiar with the symptoms of lupus: jaw pain can indicate a problem with the teeth, the bones of the jaw and their connective tissues or damage to the glands and tissues near the mouth. Lupus convinces the immune system to produce autoimmune antibodies, cells containing proteins designed to attack healthy tissue. They might attack bones and tissue directly – or cause painful inflammation and swelling that makes movement difficult and stops blood flow to healthy cells, eventually killing them.

Osteoporosis is a condition wherein the bones become thin and brittle. Normally, bones strengthen and renew themselves by breaking down old cells and replacing them with new.  With osteoporosis, the breaking-down process is happening too quickly; the bones are left with an insufficient supply of vital minerals (such as calcium) to perform repairs. Although less commonly seen in the jaw, osteoporosis can…

Rashes – particularly the distinctive malar (“butterfly rash”) over the nose and cheeks – are often the first sign of lupus. Lupus marks can occur at any point in the course of the disease, however, and are not necessarily limited to rashes. Systemic lupus will generally have skin-related symptoms such a sensitivity to light (photosensitivity) and a tendency to sunburn easily, or acne, especially as a side effect of steroid medications. But when the number of symptoms rises, and symptoms become long-term, they represent a sub-category of lupus specific to the skin, called cutaneous lupus.

Cutaneous lupus includes the malar rash and photosensitivity, but also sores, bruising, raised bumps (skin lesions) and, in extreme cases, areas of severely damaged, dead or even gangrenous skin. Cutaneous lupus that does not affect areas other than the skin is called “discoid lupus,” after the vaguely disk-shaped rash patterns that characterize it. Both discoid and cutaneous lupus produce a particular type…

Fatigue is easily the most common symptom of lupus. For people with lupus, weakness and exhaustion aren’t cured by a long nap or a restful night in; they are chronic problems that interfere with daily activities and leave patients feeling frustrated, isolated and misunderstood.

Myositis is the proper clinical term for lupus muscle weakness – usually, it’s a secondary disease that develops after the onset of lupus. It describes inflammation in the muscles themselves, and can be split into categories depending on the type of muscle affected. All forms of myositis are considered autoimmune diseases.

Symptoms are not the result of strenuous physical activity; myositis makes simple movements tiring: rising from a chair, walking, climbing stairs, even standing or raising the arms. Even so, it can be difficult to diagnose myositis because, like lupus, it can resemble other conditions, particularly inherited muscular diseases such as muscular dystrophy, or toxic myopathies (symptoms that occur due to side effects…

Doctors take systemic lupus and weight loss seriously. Dramatic changes in appetite can occur with all forms of lupus, but sle and weight loss, paired long-term, likely indicate the presence of a secondary condition. Systemic lupus can involve any system in the body and sle patients typically experience the greatest variety of secondary issues.

Weight loss is normal for patients in the beginning stages of lupus, as the body experiences the first flares of inflammation. Causes might also include poor nutrition, loss of appetite, stomach or bowel sensitivity, mood disorders, fever, disease and adverse reactions to medications. The general rule of thumb – assuming the patient is not dieting – is no more than ten pounds in six months; anything beyond that is cause for concern.

The gastrointestinal system includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas, colon and rectum. Lupus weight loss can simply be the logical result of nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, common reactions to inflammation in those…

At some point, most lupus patients are forced to cope with both systemic lupus and fatigue. Postponing or rescheduling daily activities to accommodate sle and fatigue symptoms is a frustrating, but inevitable part of life with lupus. That said, understanding the reasons behind lupus fatigue will often help patients find practical ways to deal with it.

No two cases are completely alike. Although 80% of patients will experience it, fatigue in lupus is as individual as the disease itself. But there are certain mental, physical and emotional difficulties that are consistently present in people with lupus fatigue; it is likely that some combination of these factors is responsible for most patients’ exhaustion.

Lupus, Extreme Fatigue And Secondary Diseases

Doctors run a number of different tests before designing an individual lupus fatigue treatment plan, screening for any additional diseases that might have developed as a result of autoimmune attacks on the patient’s body. There are many…

The most talked about lupus facial rash (SLE facial rash) is the butterfly rash. It forms over both cheeks and the bridge of the nose, in the form of a butterfly, hence the name. It is officially titled the malar rash, because this part of the face is referred to as the malar area. The rash can be red or purplish, and sometimes can be light pink, looking more like a blush.

This rash is what people normally think of when they hear the word lupus, but is really only present in about 30 percent of patients. It is present in other diseases as well such as Pellagra, dermatomyositis, and Bloom Syndrome. There are a number of conditions with rashes that have similar appearances. In fact, the butterfly rash is often confused with acne rosacea, which also forms over the cheeks. This lupus facial rash can be distinguished by other facial rashes with an ANA screening and a detailed history.…

What is the Lupus Index (SLE Index)? That is a common question. The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) is a scoring system that is often used in lupus research. In this lupus index, items are given a relative weight of 1, 2, 4, or 8 (Wikipedia.org, 2011) the number 8 rating representing increased disease activity.

According to Rheumatology.org, “the SLEDAI has been shown to be a valid and reliable disease activity measure in multiple patient groups, and has also showed to be sensitive to changes in disease activities in children.” The cumulative index has been further refined into the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment (SELENA SLEDAI). In this new index, the scores now fall between 0 and 105. The new index excludes seizures that are caused by irreversible CNS damage, and it was expanded to include scleritis, episcleritis, and vertigo (Wallace, Hahn, & Dubois, 2007, p. 923).

Another SLE Index take note of is the…

A lupus manifestation (SLE manifestation) is any outward or perceptible indication of the disease. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus may affect any part of a person’s body, so many different manifestations can occur with this disease. This article will discuss different manifestations that may occur and what can be done about each.

One of the main manifestations, complained universally among people with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), is fatigue. It affects over 80 percent of people with lupus, and can be debilitating. Fatigue may be caused by overexertion, insomnia, depression, stress, anemia, and other inflammatory diseases or disease activity overall. Pain, age, medication, poor physical and mental health and lack of good social support may also play a role.

Before a physician can treat fatigue, he must conclude that there are no medical reasons for it such as anemia, kidney failure, or hypothyroidism. Getting the proper amount of rest is essential to fatigue treatment, as well as the treatment of other SLE symptoms.…

Lupus is a complex disease that can affect many area of a person’s body. So, obviously there are a wide range of lupus complications (SLE complications) that can occur. Being aware of what is possible is the first step in avoiding these types of problems.

Keep in mind that, although complications can occur, they are treated more successfully that they were in the past. Most people with lupus live a full life span. In fact, 90% of people that have lupus will live at least 5 years after being diagnosed, and 70% will live over 20 years after their diagnosis. Catching problems early and communicating with you doctor is very essential though.

Complications of Lupus

The following are some of the lupus complications (SLE complications) that can occur:

Kidneys – Kidney failure is one of the leading complications of lupus, and one of the leading causes of death from the disease. Symptoms of kidney problems…

Does lupus cause itching? Many people with lupus say that they experience itching. There are several things that may cause lupus itching. Many times lupus patients are given topical creams for itching, but if you are itching from head to toe this hardly help. There are oral medications for this as well.

So, what causes the itching? Sometimes it’s the medications that you are on, and sometimes it occurs with rashes. However, this is rare. Lupus itching skin could be caused by allergies as well. More importantly, itching is also a symptom of kidney problems, so taking a urinalysis would be a wise idea.

Lupus nephritis is the term used when lupus causes inflammation in your kidneys. It is estimated that as many as 40 percent, and two-thirds of children with lupus, will develop kidney complications. When the kidneys are affected, abnormal waste levels can build up in the blood. This causes edema, or swelling. This could…

Lupus joint pain (SLE joint pain) is the most common symptom in lupus. About 95% of lupus patients experience joint pain at some point, and about 70% say that it was the first symptoms. Lupus joint pain tends to be worse in the morning. Joints will either be swollen or puffy. They may also be tender and swift. This is caused by inflammation of the joints.

When lupus joint pain occurs it seems to be present on both sides of the body. For example, if you have pain in one hand you will usually have pain in the other hand. Carpel tunnel syndrome occurs more frequently in patients who have lupus and joint pain than of the general population. This will cause pain, numbness, and tingling of the hand. In cases such as this, the patient will usually be treated with wrist splint, steroid injections, and oral steroids.  Surgery is also sometimes performed.

In sometimes a condition called avascular necrosis…

There are a huge number of lupus manifestations (SLE manifestations) to speak of. Fatigue is the most abundant complaint of people wit lupus. For many, this was the manifestation that led them to discover the disease. This article will help you take a look at fatigue and other lupus manifestations (SLE manifestations).

As many as 80 percent of lupus victims suffer from fatigue. For many people, fatigue is their main symptom. It can be so debilitating for some that it forces them to stop working. There are many things that can cause fatigue. Before it can be treated a physician must conclude the reasons for the fatigue, such as anemia, kidney failure, or hypothyroidism. Other reasons for fatigue are disease activity, pain, age, medications, poor mental and physical health, lack of social support, feelings of helplessness, poor coping strategies, depression, anxiety, lack of exercise, and smoking.

Weight loss is another of the common lupus manifestations (SLE manifestations). Weight loss can…

Lupus tends to affect everyone who has it differently, so there are a wide variety of lupus side effects (SLE side effects). Lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and/or the nervous system. Having lupus increases you risk of having other health problems not necessarily caused by the disease, such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and kidney disease. This leads people to ask, “What are the side effects of lupus?”

Infections are the most common side effects of lupus. Lupus has a direct effect on the immune system and therefore people with lupus are more susceptible to infections, particularly if they do not take steroids. People with lupus are generally prone to two types of infections. The first category includes infections with organisms that often affect persons within the general population such as strep throat and staph infections. The second category has been labeled “opportunistic” infections, which are caused by organisms that only bring about disease when…

When people think of lupus, often what comes to mind is the “butterfly rash”. This SLE rash is butterfly-shaped and forms across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose. Officially, this rash is named the malar rash, and it can occur in other conditions, such as rosacea. Over half the patients with lupus develop the SLE malar rash.

Typically, the SLE butterfly rash is red or purplish and can be mildly scaly. It can also be light pink, like a mild blushing. It darkens with exposure to sunlight. The SLE rash is painless and does not itch. It can be flat or raised. You can find SLE rash pictures on the following websites:

• Cure4lupus.org
• Lupus.webmd.com
• Skinsight.com

Another SLE skin rash that is common is the discoid rash. This SLE rash is either coin-shaped or oval shaped, like a disk. It is found on areas that are exposed to sunlight. The like the butterfly…

Many people with lupus are prone to what is referred to ‘lupus headaches’. Lupus and headaches seem to be almost synonymous with 31.7% of lupus patients describing migraines and 23.5% describing tension-type headaches. Depending on which study you are looking at 33% to 78% of people with lupus have them. The existence of the ‘lupus headache’ is often contested, but many studies have formed definitive conclusions (Wikipedia, 2011).

The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) defines lupus headaches as a “severe, persistent headache; may be migrainous, but must be nonresponsive to narcotic analgesia. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) does not define lupus headaches, but propose several headache disorders based on the International Headache Society’s classification.

Since lupus usually occurs in women, 90% of lupus patients are female of childbearing age, and migraine headaches are common in women, many people believe that lupus just makes the patients more prone to the headaches than they usually…

What is chilblains lupus? Some people with cutaneous lupus erythematosus have circulatory problems, especially if they live in cool climates or if they are smokers. These lupus patients may develop chilblains. Lupus chilblains, otherwise known as pernio, are itchy and/or tender red or purple bumps. They are a form of vasculitis (blood vessel inflammation). They occur in healthy people as well as people with lupus, and are most common in children and the elderly. Poor nutrition, poor circulation, and bone marrow disorders contribute to chilblains. Lupus researchers have linked this condition with antiphospholipid antibodies as well.

Chilblain lesions usually form on the toes and fingers, but they can also form on the heels, calves, knees, nose, and ears. They can become very painful and very itchy, and in extreme cases the skin may crack and infection may occur. They usually manifest as an abnormal reaction to the cold, appearing after a few hours of cold exposure. On…

Lupus flare ups can be anticipated and even stopped if you know how realize the triggers and signs before they occur. Flares are unpredictable, but there are some known triggers such as exposure to sunlight, stress, certain medications, or pregnancy. You can never make these flares go away, but there are indeed ways to make them more manageable.

Keeping a healthy diet is important when living with lupus. There is no particular lupus diet, but the diets that are recommended have the same components: low fat, low sodium, high in fiber, and low in refined sugar. Some foods can help control flares, for example fish and fish oil is highly recommended.

Spicy foods are a known trigger to flare ups. Alfalfa sprouts are also known to produce flares, so check food labels to make sure that they are not ingredients in the food product. If you notice that your body is aggravated by certain foods, simply stop eating them.

Exercise…

The lupus malar rash (SLE malar rash) is often one of the first signs of the disease. It is often called the butterfly rash because it takes the form of a butterfly, running over each cheek and across the bridge of the nose. It has sharp edges, and is often red or purplish in color. It is mildly scaly, but not painful or itchy.  About 46 to 65% of lupus patients have it. The malar rash is seen in diseases as well, but is most common among lupus patients. ANA screenings help to determine whether it is actually an SLE malar rash.

The lupus malar rash is a common symptom of acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, or the kind of lupus that affects the skin. This disease can be transient, lasting for several weeks. The lupus rash is caused by a malfunctioning immune system, which cause antibodies to attack healthy skin cells.

Sun exposure tends to make the rash darker and…

What are the symptoms of discoid lupus? Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) is a chronic skin condition of sores with inflammation and scarring favoring the face, ears, and scalp, but at times it does affect other body areas. The lesions that form are disk-shaped or round. About 10 percent of people with discoid lupus later develop systemic lupus erythematosus. You should visit your doctor if you see any of these symptoms of discoid lupus.

As was mentioned above, these lesions often cause scarring. They also cause discoloration or the skin, making the skin lighter or darker. If discoid lesions form on the scalp they may cause your hair to fall out and the scarring makes the hair loss permanent. Cancer is also known to form, so if you have had a lesion for a long time and you notice changes in its appearance, then you should tell your doctor.

There are several websites that you can…

“What is chronic lupus?” and “How does a person get this disease?” are common questions. There are several forms of lupus, some are chronic and some are acute. Lupus is considered chronic if the symptoms last longer than six weeks. With this disease, they often go on for many years. No one knows what causes chronic lupus, but it seems to be a combination of environmental and genetic factors.

When people speak of chronic lupus, they often mean systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the most common form of lupus. This type of lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease. Autoimmune means that something goes wrong with the body’s immune system which causes antibodies to attack healthy tissues, instead of germs, viruses, and the like. This leaves a wide range of problems that can occur.

It is easier to identify the acute (short-term forms of lupus first) since there are less of them. These include:

Acute cutaneous lupus erythemaosus –…

Managing a lupus flare-up (SLE flare-up) can be difficult. However, there are a lot of techniques out there to help you realize a flare up of lupus is about to occur, keep flare-ups less frequent, or even stop them all together. This article will help you to manage your flare ups so that you can go about your life as pain free as possible.

Paying attention to your body’s signals is important when managing your flares. There are signs that a flare up of lupus is about to occur. Some of the lupus flare up symptoms are as follows:

• Persistent fatigue, which is out of proportion with what you usually expect
• Persistent weakness
• Aching all over
• Fever, which may be slight to high
• Persistent loss of appetite
• Involuntary weight loss
• Sore on the roof of the mouth
• Unexplained skin rash
• Sores on the skin
• Painful joint(s)
• Swollen joints
• Stiffness of the joints when waking
• Some more serious symptoms of

…

Lupus blood work (SLE blood work) is one of the most important parts of lupus treatment. With so many things that can go wrong with your body, blood work is essential to finding problems before they occur. This article will out line the different blood work that is commonly administered during treatment and the reasons for it.

The most commonly administered test in lupus is the antinuclear antibodies, or ANA test. Antinuclear antibodies bind to the nucleus (command center) of the cell and destroy it. When three or more typical features of lupus are present your physician will order this test, and a positive result can help diagnose lupus.

A diagnosis cannot be drawn by an ANA test by itself.  Healthy people and people with other illnesses get results that come back positive all the time. This still is an important part of lupus blood work, since these antibodies are found in 97% of people with lupus, and lupus usually…

Many people have questions about the lupus face rash. Questions like “What does it look like?” or “What causes it?” are common. There are actually several types of face rashes in lupus. This article is sure to answer some of your lupus face rash questions.

The most common lupus face rash is what is known as the butterfly rash. It gets its name because it takes the form of a butterfly on the face, going over both cheeks and over the bridge of the nose.  Its official name is the malar rash. This lupus face rash is usually red or purplish, but sometimes can be light pink. It will get darker or worse with exposure to the sun. It is usually flat, but sometimes elevated. This lupus rash on the face is not normally itchy or painful, but it can be scaly.

Other rashes may form that are not specific to lupus. A lupus face rash…

Researchers have been investigating the idea of a lupus virus (SLE virus). This is because many doctors have noticed a connection between lupus and Epstein Barr virus (EBV) infections. Could lupus be caused by a virus? Read on.

Scientists have come to the conclusion that genes do play a role in the cause of lupus. They are beginning to realize, as well, that there are environmental factors that play a role as well. In other words, these environmental factors may ‘trigger’ lupus in people that are already predisposed to the disease. MayoClinic.com outlines some factors (including environmental factors) that may increase your risk of the disease, these include:

Sex – Lupus is more common in women.

Age – Lupus is most common between the ages of 15 and 40, though it affects people of all ages.

Race – Lupus is most common in blacks, Hispanics, and Asians.

Sunlight – Exposure to sunlight may trigger an internal response in susceptible people.…

Some of the changes that lupus brings about can be difficult, especially when that change is losing your hair. Lupus hair loss (SLE hair loss) can be very upsetting because it not only strikes your self-esteem but also your quality of life. The important thing is to face it head on and don’t get discouraged by other people.

The truth is you’re not alone. Hair loss from lupus occurs, at some time or another, in about 45 percent of lupus patients. There are a lot of reasons for lupus hair loss. Hair loss usually occurs at the onset of the disease, and many times is one of first symptoms a person notices. Most of the time hair falls out all over the head, but sometimes it falls out in patches.

Sometimes hair loss is caused by medication. This type of hair loss with lupus is reversible. Lupus hair loss that is caused by discoid scarring is usually permanent. This is…

Some of the symptoms that are caused by lupus are lupus lesions (SLE lesions). No matter what type of lupus you have, you can get rashes and lesions. The important thing is to understand treatment and what to do if it happens to you. This article will discuss lupus skin lesions and tactics of dealing with them.

Cutaneous lupus is the type of lupus that limited to skin conditions. However, according to the Lupus Foundation of America, many times cutaneous lupus rashes and lesions are just the beginning symptoms of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Cutaneous lesions (lupus lesions on the skin) are most common, but many people don’t realize that lesions are not limited to the skin. Lupus brain lesions, kidney lesions, liver lesions, and lesions on other parts of the body may also occur. Lupus and brain lesions are especially dangerous. Some people with lupus brain lesions show no nervous system symptoms at all, however, seizures and migraines are…

In people with SLE, lupus sore throat is a common experience. People with lupus are very susceptible to infection; there are two reasons for this. The first is that lupus directly affects a person’s immune system and reduces the person’s ability to prevent and fight infection. The second is that the drugs that are use to treat the disease often suppress the immune system and leave that person more prone to infection.

Cases of lupus and sore throat are easily treated, if treatment is sought out quickly. People with a lupus sore throat should go see their doctor because this is could be an indicator of a flare. Also, it could be an indicator of strep throat.  Strep throat is generally not very serious and can be treated easily with oral antibiotics. If it is left untreated, however, it can spread to the sinuses, skin, blood, or kidneys. It could also cause rheumatic fever; this is a serious condition that…

According to Wisegeek.com, acute lupus is a temporary, but severe inflammatory reaction that is produced by the body. Unlike the life long pain of chronic lupus, acute lupus is normally fleeting and can disappear as quickly as it arrived. This type of lupus can affect the skin, kidneys, or any other various parts of the body.

The most common type of acute lupus is acute cutaneous lupus. Typically, patients with this form of lupus develop what is called a malar rash, also known as the butterfly rash. It is called a butterfly rash because it usually takes the shape of a butterfly across a person’s face, spreading over the person’s cheeks and across the bridge of the nose. This acute cutaneous lupus rash may also form on your arms, legs, and mostly appears on other parts of the body that are usually exposed to sunlight. In acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, the rashes or lesions are not painful…

Many people who have been diagnosed with lupus begin their treatment by seeing a rheumatology lupus specialist, or rheumatologist. A rheumatologist is a physician who specializes in the treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones. Since lupus patients often have pain and inflammation in their joints, a rheumatologist is usually the first specialist they see.

A rheumatologist can treat more than a 100 different diseases that involve multiple organ systems, such as lupus. Most of the time, a rheumatologist will work in a healthcare team along with other physicians, nurses, and social workers to treat a lupus patient that has multiple organ involvement. Many times the rheumatology lupus specialist is the main point of contact in managing the treatment.

Lupus Rheumatology

Rheumatologists generally treat their patients with anti-inflammatory medications to help relieve pain and reduce inflammation. These drugs are particularly useful in symptoms such as fever, arthritis, and…

When seeking treatment for lupus disease, it is critical that you weight out the benefits and risks. Speaking with your doctor is a good start, but studies show that people who take an active role in their lupus disease treatment live longer, fuller lives. So learning as much as possible, joining support groups, and talking with your doctor(s) are immanent parts of treatment for lupus disease.

Medications are important, and sometimes even essential, but successful treatment for lupus disease starts by treating the source, your own body. Keeping a healthy diet and exercising is probably the most important things that you can do for your body. Getting a balance amount of sleep is also a requirement.

Examples of healthy lupus diets can be found at Mayoclinic.com and Lupus.org. Light aerobic exercises performed daily are enough to keep your body in shape. Don’t make your symptoms worse by overdoing it. Exercise is also great in helping…

Lupus Depression (SLE depression) can be very disabling and unpleasant. Feeling depress is a normal, natural emotion. However, a continually depressed mood and feelings of helplessness may be signs of clinical depression. If you are experiencing sadness and gloom for a prolonged amount of time, or find yourself crying without any real cause, you should talk to you doctor.

Patients are considered to be clinically depressed when they seem to stay in a depressed mood or have disturbances in their appetite and their sleep for several weeks and it is bad enough that it disrupts their day-to-day life. Depression and lupus are commonly linked, this is fairly normal with individuals who have chronic medical conditions. According to Everydayhealth.com, 60 percent of people with chronic diseases suffer from periods of depression. If you believe that you may have lupus and depression, question whether any of the following signs apply to you:

• Insomnia or restless sleep, or sleeping too much
• Loss

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Just as lupus may affect the joints, skin, and kidneys, lupus vision problems (SLE vision) may occur. Trouble involving the eye may be a manifestation of lupus itself or a result of complications in other organs. Drug treatments have also been known to cause vision problems.

Corticosteroids and anti-malaria drugs may cause lupus vision problems. These problems can include inflammation of the eye, glaucoma, and cataracts. General vision changes may also occur, and on rare occasions blindness has been known to have resulted from lupus vision problems. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, warning signs of eye problems include:

• Development of a rash over the eyelids
• Mucus discharge from the eye
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Headaches
• A sore, red eye
• Lack of tears, and eyes that are hurt and are dry
• Episodes of flashing lights and partial blindness

Lupus Vision Occurrences

Dry eyes are the most common of SLE problems. These symptoms…

There are basically two reasons why in lupus infections are so common. The first is that because the person’s immune system is directly affected by the disease, it reduces his or her ability to prevent and fight infection. The second is that many of the drugs are meant to suppress the immune system (which is causing damage), but this leaves the body more prone to infections.

The types of lupus infections patients may get fall into two categories. The first is infections that normally affect the general population, such as staph and strep. The second threat is from organisms that bring about disease when the immune system is weakened. These are called “opportunistic” infections and they include fungal, parasitic, and protozoan infections.

Common Types of Infections

When people think of infections, it is normally of little concern. Most people’s bodies fight them off easily and they are back on their feet in…

Can lupus cause hives? This is a question that is asked by many. A link between lupus and hives has been mentioned on many message boards, such as Ehealthforum.com and questions of it have surged through the online community. The truth is lupus has caused hives before, though the condition is very uncommon and the reason why is unclear.

According to Mayoclinic.com, lupus hives may be caused by certain antibodies, sun exposure, or medications. None of these are very far-fetched guesses. Hives are after all an allergic reaction, so the thought of it being caused by antibodies in an autoimmune disease. Certain medications have also been known to cause hives including anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics. Furthermore, if sunlight has been known to produce skin reactions in people with lupus, why not hives?

Thelupussite.com states that 10% of people with lupus “will develop hives at some point”. They go on to say that most of the…

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can be very disabling. Many patients will have a form of lupus disability. The disability can vary in severity, and it can be due to a variety of different symptoms. Disability can affect a patient’s quality of life, causing a patient to have to stop working, cut back on their daily activities, and more. Lupus disability can also affect a patient’s family, loved ones, and caregivers. This is why it is so important to know that lupus can lead to some disability. Having information about disability before it occurs can help a patient diagnosed with lupus be more prepared in case the need to apply for disability arises.

Even with treatment options, disability can occur. This is because lupus is a chronic disease that current does not have a permanent cure. While treatment options can help to reduce the symptoms of the disease, they cannot erase them completely. Treatment options also cannot completely…

Lupus is a disease that has many different symptoms. It also has many different underlying lupus conditions associated with it. These conditions can cause numerous other problems for a lupus patient. Some of the conditions that can occur along with lupus disease include Sjogren’s syndrome, heartburn, migraines, depression, anemia, and kidney disease. These conditions may require additional treatment. A medical professional who is familiar with lupus should be aware of the additional conditions that a lupus patient may experience. This will ensure that the conditions can be diagnosed quickly, before they can cause serious and lasting damage.

Lupus conditions can add to the stress of having a chronic disease. They can add more symptoms, reducing a patient’s overall quality of life. Some lupus conditions can even have a disabling effect, leading a lupus patient to have to cut back on their daily activities and possibility lead to them being unable to work or participate in normal activities.…

The lupus illness is a complicated disease that still frustrates many doctors and medical professionals. It is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect many different parts of the body, including the nervous system, vital organs, the immune system, blood vessels, and more. It most commonly affects women of childbearing age, although it has been diagnosed in people of any age and gender, including men and children. There are many different types of lupus, including cutaneous lupus, discoid lupus, systemic lupus erythematosus, drug induced lupus, and neonatal lupus. Some types of lupus share similar symptoms, but they may present in different ways.

Lupus can be diagnosed through a blood test. A blood test is the only way to find out if lupus antibodies are present in a patient. However, doctors will likely want to run other tests in people who are presenting with lupus symptoms as well. Some other tests can include a CAT scan or an MRI scans. This…

Lupus is a disease that can affect many different parts of the body, including vital organs, blood vessels, the nervous system, and more. CNS lupus refers to lupus when it affects a patient’s central nervous system. When lupus disease affects a person’s central nervous system, it can cause a variety of different symptoms. These symptoms can include headaches, high fever, seizures, fatigue, stroke, concentration issues, and confusion. Any symptoms that could indicate a problem with the central nervous system should be taken very seriously, and medical attention should be sought out as soon as possible in order to avoid any further complications.

CNS lupus can be life threatening without proper treatment. It can cause serious infections in the brain or spinal cord. Seizures can also be very dangerous. CNS lupus may require immediate treatment in the form of hospitalization in order to stabilize a patient. This is why it is so important to receive an early CNS lupus diagnosis. Once…

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that typically affects women of childbearing age. However, it can also affect men, and there are many symptoms of lupus in men. Many of the symptoms of lupus in men are the same symptoms that would be found in women as well. The main symptoms of lupus can include things like widespread joint pain, fatigue, a butterfly shaped rash, and fever. Sometimes, symptoms of lupus can seem like the flu. Anyone with symptoms that resemble lupus should seek out medical attention. This will ensure that the proper testing can be done to seek out the cause of the symptoms, whether it is lupus or another disease.

Testing for lupus can be extensive. Lupus is sometimes known as the copycat disease because it has many symptoms that can also point to other chronic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis. It can also resemble the flu and Lyme…

There are many different symptoms of lupus in children, and many of them are similar to the symptoms that appear in adults as well. They can sometimes be harder to notice in children because kids may have a harder time voicing their concerns about how they are feeling. Some of the more common symptoms of lupus in children can include a rash, fever, joint pain, muscle aches, and fatigue. While older children may be able to notice these symptoms and describe them accurately, younger children may only notice that something is off. Children who are not yet talking may simply be fussy and out of sorts. It is important for adults to know the symptoms of lupus in order to be aware if children are exhibiting them.

While lupus normally affects women of childbearing age, it can affect people of any age and gender. This includes children. It is important to keep an eye…

There are many different subtypes of the lupus disease. These can include SLE syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, cutaneous lupus, drug induced lupus, discoid lupus, and neonatal lupus. SLE syndrome can be a form lupus, or it can be an unknown disease that has symptoms that mimic another type of lupus. SLE syndrome may also be used to refer to drug induced lupus.

Drug induced lupus is caused by certain types of medications. Some medications that can cause it include antibiotics, anti inflammatory medications, medications for heart disease, thyroid drugs, and hypertension medications. Drug induced lupus has many of the same symptoms as other types of lupus, including joint pain, fatigue, rashes, and a fever. Drug induced lupus is considered a type of lupus, although it is treated differently. Drug induced lupus is not typically chronic. This type of lupus usually goes away on its own once the medication that is causing the problem is discontinued. Once the…

There are many different lupus dermatitis symptoms that a patient can experience. These symptoms can appear with many different types of lupus, including systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, discoid lupus, and cutaneous lupus. These symptoms can range in severity, and they can pop up at different times during the disease. In the early stages of lupus, symptoms can help a professional to make a diagnosis, so it is important for anyone experiencing possible lupus dermatitis symptoms to seek out medical attention.

One of the major lupus dermatitis symptoms includes some type of rash. The easiest type of lupus rash to identify is a butterfly shaped rash that goes across the face. This rash can vary in color from light pink to a dark red. It typically spreads from cheek to cheek, going across the bridge of the nose. Other types of rashes can occur as well. Oval shaped rashes can occur on the body, typically in…

There are many different symptoms that are associated with the autoimmune disease lupus. One of the symptoms that people may experience is known as lupus diplopia, which is a type of vision problem. Vision problems are common in lupus, especially as the disease progresses. There are many different types of vision problems that people can experience. Lupus diplopia is a vision problem that causes double vision in the patient. It can be caused by the lupus disease, and it be can also be a side effect of different medications used to treat the disease and its symptoms, such as corticosteroids.

Lupus diplopia can occur with other vision problems. Other vision problems that can occur in lupus patients include dry eyes, blurred vision, sensitivity to light, a rash on the eyelids, and discharge from the eyes. In some patients with lupus, blindness can result. However, this is very rare. For someone who experiences these vision changes or any…

Someone who has the chronic disease lupus can experience a variety of different symptoms, including lupus ataxia. Ataxia is a neurological problem that can occur on its own or in different disorders, including lupus. It involves a lack of muscle coordination, and this can have a wide variety of different effects on the body. A person who is experiencing ataxia can have a problem with their speech, vision, balance, or motor skills. Unconscious body movements can be effected, such as blinking and swallowing.

Ataxia can be caused due to a problem is the brain. Many types of ataxia are due to a problem in the cerebellum. Different types of ataxia can have different symptoms, and they can range in severity. Some may be caused by the result of an injury, while other types can be hereditary. Other types, like lupus ataxia, are caused by disease. Ataxia can affect people of any age and gender, although it is…

Erectile dysfunction, also referred to as ED, is a common problem among many men. Lupus erectile dysfunction can occur in men who have the chronic autoimmune disease lupus. This is a sexual problem in which a male has a problem getting and maintaining an erection. There are many different reasons that this problem could occur in a lupus patient. Some causes could be directly related to the disease itself, while others could be more related to symptoms of the disease or treatments used for lupus.

One common cause of erectile dysfunction in men with lupus is prescription medications. Some medications that are used to treat the symptoms of lupus or other aspects of the disease may have erectile dysfunction as a side effect. Another reason ED may occur is due to chronic pain. Many lupus patients will experience chronic pain in their joints and muscles on a regular basis, which can affect their sex life. Another…

When someone is diagnosed with lupus, they may experience other related conditions as well, such as lupus dystonia. This condition is a movement disorder that is characterized by muscles that contract and spasm irregularly. One body part can be involved, or several different muscles can contract at the same time. Lupus dystonia can affect anyone with lupus, no matter what their age or gender is. It can occur during any stage of the disease as well. Lupus dystonia can vary in severity, and it can cause severe pain and disability in some patients, especially without the proper treatment.

Dystonia is a chronic problem, meaning it can last for a person’s lifetime. There is currently no cure for the problem. However, dystonia does not affect a person’s life span. The main thing it will affect is a person’s quality of life. This is because it can strike at any time, causing a person to be disabled. It can…

Pain is one of the main symptoms of lupus, and it can come in many forms. One type of pain that people can experience is lupus facial pain. This is any kind of pain that is experienced on the face or in the facial area. There can be a few different causes for lupus facial pain. Facial pain can be the result of headaches caused by lupus. Many people with lupus will experience headaches, and these headaches can cause pain in the forehead, above the eyes, or in the sinus areas. Pain can also be present in the joints of the jaw, since lupus causes widespread joint pain.

Nerve pain can also occur in the face in lupus patients. Damage to the nerves can cause a tingling or burning sensation in the different types of lupus disease. This can be felt in the cheeks, the neck, the jaw, the ears, or the throat. Nerve pain can…

Many patients with lupus will have SLE eyes problems, which can vary. One of the common problems is lupus dry eyes, which can be very uncomfortable for patients. A patient with lupus may have different uncomfortable sensations in their eyes, such as a gritty feeling, irritation, or a burning sensation. Patients with lupus may also experience inflammation around the eyes, on the eyelids, or even on the eyeball. Another eye problem can involve the muscles and nerves that help to control the eyes. This can lead to problems with vision and controlling movement of the eyes.

Sjogren’s syndrome is a condition that up to 20 percent of patients with lupus will have. This syndrome involves the eyes and the tear ducts, and it is characterized by dry eyes. In this condition, the tear glands will not produce enough moisture to lubricate and moisturize the eye. This can lead to damage to the outer layer of the eye…

Many people who are diagnosed with the chronic autoimmune disease with have the combination of lupus and fatigue. This is because SLE fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of the disease. It can be an early indicator of the disease for many people. The fatigue can come on suddenly, or it can come on gradually over a longer period of time. In the beginning stages of lupus, fatigue may present with other symptoms such as joint pain, a fever, headaches, and skin rashes. Anyone with these symptoms should see a medical professional in order to get tested for lupus or other medical conditions that may present with similar symptoms.

Getting an early diagnosis can help patients to reduce the symptoms and get treatment as soon as possible. In order to receive a diagnosis, medical professionals will want to run a variety of tests. The only test that can find lupus in the body is a blood test. However,…

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which a person’s immune system becomes compromised by the disease. This can lead to a lupus infection in the body. A person who has the lupus disease is more prone to getting a SLE infection, so they should taken extra care to avoid getting sick. There are many precautions that someone with a compromised immune system can take in order to protect themselves from things like a cold or the flu. Taking these measures can help a person with lupus stay healthy and avoid getting more serious infections such as pneumonia.

One of the biggest things a person with a compromised immune system can do to protect themselves from infection is get immunizations as necessary. A flu vaccine is one of the most important vaccinations to get on a yearly basis. The flu can be dangerous or even fatal for someone who has a problem with their immune system. It…

Lupus is a chronic disease that has many different symptoms. One of the symptoms can be a lupus rash on hands. A SLE hands rash can be present in several types of lupus, including cutaneous lupus, discoid lupus, and systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. It can come along with other rashes, such as the characteristic butterfly rash that occurs on the face or rashes that occur on other places on the body. These rashes may not be itchy or have other symptoms. They can vary in color from a light pink to deep red, and they can be flat or raised.

A rash can be an early indicator of the disease in individuals, especially if it appears with other symptoms. Other early symptoms of lupus can include fatigue, headaches, fever, and widespread joint pain. Anyone experiencing these symptoms should see their medical professional to find out the cause. A doctor will want to run tests…

SLE or Lupus medical condition:

Systemic lupus erythematosus also known as SLE condition or Lupus condition is a systematic autoimmune disease that is characterized by inflammation and tissue damage in any part of the body. It affects multiple systems across the human body such as the heart, lungs, joints, skin, liver, kidneys and the nervous system.It is also known as autoimmune connective tissue disease and is more common in women than men and in people of non-European descent.

Symptoms of SLE condition:

SLE condition usually presents with initial symptoms of rash, fever, fatigue, chronic joint and muscle pain. The skin and joint symptoms predominate and are usually the complaints that motivate the patient to seek medical help. As the lupus skin condition worsens a distinctive malar rash known as a ‘butterfly’ rash appears on the face. Joint pain due to inflammation invariably leads to arthritis. The heart, lungs and kidneys…

Lupus, psoriasis, and Rheumatoid Arthritis are autoimmune disorders that have actually been traced to at least one common gene, the Runx-1. This particular gene does not cause disease, nor necessarily trigger it. Rather, it makes the carrier susceptible to these and possibly other autoimmune disorders. With this type of illness, the immune system ‘panics’ when it encounters a foreign invader, and begins to create antibodies to destroy the toxins. The immune system goes into ‘overdrive’ and attacks healthy tissues in the process, causing a host of symptoms from inflammation to pain, and often affecting other parts of the body.

Lupus patients may experience skin and joint problems as well as damage to internal organs. Psoriasis occurs when skin cells grow too rapidly and the skin does not have ample time to shed old cells, causing new cells to pile on top of old cells, resulting in skin lesion. The symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis may include fatigue, lack of energy, decreased…

Most of us have experienced occasional joint pains and swelling, and in most cases this is not a matter of great concern, but these can also be early indications of lupus, or SLE. Early lupus symptoms can sometimes develop into other, more serious and debilitating conditions, leading in some cases to rheumatoid arthritis. It’s important, therefore, to take these early symptoms of lupus quite seriously, even if only to rule out the possibility of lupus. Early symptoms such as these are quite often simply what they appear to be: maybe you just over-exerted yourself at the gym or running for the bus, but there’s no harm in giving yourself some peace of mind. Catching early symptoms of lupus in women and men as soon as they appear gives you an edge in fighting the disease and can help you avoid pain and frustration down the road.

How to Identify Early Lupus Symptoms

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Lupus sores are one of the most common symptoms of lupus. Medically called Mucus Membrane Lesions, this term applies for; lupus sores in mouth, lupus sores in nose and lupus sores on the genitals. They can be painless or painful, but generally are bothersome.

There are several factors that contribute to developing these lupus sores and other types of lupus skin conditions, one culprit is UV exposure. Sensitivity to UV lights and some artificial light seems to have a negative effect on already aggravated skin. Avoiding exposure to sunlight during the main part of the day, and avoiding artificial light, such as florescent or halogen, would decrease the aggravation of the skin.

Another skin problem UV light causes in some people with lupus are Discoid Lesions, which are coin shaped lesions caused by UV light. Discoid Lesions also can cause lupus scalp sores, which can scar and cause localized baldness.  Wearing protective clothing, such as hats, can help reduce the…

The SLE butterfly rash, so called because of the distinctive shape that it forms on a person’s face, is a strong indicator that a person may have SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus), abbreviated Lupus, which leads to its more common name “Lupus butterfly rash.” Lupus is a systemic (attacks bodily systems) autoimmune disease or autoimmune connective tissue disease which inflicts two thirds of the people affected by it with some sort of skin disease. For lupus, a malfunctioning immune system causes the body to attack healthy tissues in the skin. The Lupus butterfly rash (also Malar rash) is considered a cutaneous (condition of the skin) form of lupus which may or may not develop into the more involved systemic lupus, affecting other organ systems of the body.

The Lupus butterfly rash is recognizable because of the butterfly shape that the rash resembles as it extends beneath the eyes and on the cheeks, representing the wings and across the bridge of the…

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is an uncommon autoimmune disorder that causes overlapping features of primarily three connective tissue diseases — lupus, scleroderma and polymyositis. Lupus mixed connective tissue disease also may have features of rheumatoid arthritis. For this reason, SLE mixed connective tissue disease is sometimes referred to as an overlap disease.

The disease is part of a larger group of diseases known as autoimmune disorders. When you have an autoimmune disorder, your immune system — responsible for fighting off disease — mistakes normal, healthy cells for intruders. As a result, healthy tissue in your body is damaged, causing signs and symptoms of disease. In connective tissue diseases, your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy connective tissue.

Signs and symptoms of lupus mixed connective tissue disease include:

• Raynaud’s disease — blood vessel spasms that interrupt blood flow to the fingers, toes, ears and nose
• Fatigue
• General feeling of being unwell (malaise)
• Muscle pains

…

Lupus eye symptoms (technically, SLE eye symptoms, as problems with the eye itself most commonly occur in people with the systemic form of lupus) range from dryness to lesions to damage to the inner and outer surfaces of the eye. Discoid lupus, which affects only the skin, can cause swelling and scarring of the eyelid, but systemic lupus might target any or all of the various types of tissue that make up the eye, as well as areas which connect the eye to other important systems within the body.

The eye uses light to transmit information about shape, distance and color to the brain. The dark center of the eye, called the pupil, collects light as it bounces off an object and directs it inside and back, to an area called the retina. There are receptors in the retina that interpret the light signals and feed that information to a large nerve at the back of the eye, the optic…

Lupus encephalopathy is a term for any diffuse disease of the brain that alters brain function or structure. SLE encephalopathy may be caused by infectious agent (bacteria, virus, or prion), metabolic or mitochondrial dysfunction, brain tumor or increased pressure in the skull, prolonged exposure to toxic elements (including solvents, drugs, radiation, paints, industrial chemicals, and certain metals), chronic progressive trauma, poor nutrition, or lack of oxygen or blood flow to the brain. The hallmark of encephalopathy is an altered mental state.

Depending on the type and severity of encephalopathy, common neurological symptoms are progressive loss of memory and cognitive ability, subtle personality changes, inability to concentrate, lethargy, and progressive loss of consciousness. Other neurological symptoms may include myoclonus (involuntary twitching of a muscle or group of muscles), nystagmus (rapid, involuntary eye movement), tremor, muscle atrophy and weakness, dementia, seizures, and loss of ability to swallow or speak. Blood tests, spinal fluid examination, imaging studies, electroencephalograms, and similar diagnostic studies may…

Lupus Encephalitis is an acute inflammation of the brain. Encephalitis with meningitis is known as meningoencephalitis. Symptoms of SLE encephalitis include headache, fever, confusion, drowsiness, and fatigue. More advanced and serious symptoms include seizures or convulsions, tremors, hallucinations, and memory problems.

Viral lupus encephalitis can occur either as a direct effect of an acute infection, or as one of the squeal of a latent infection. A common cause of encephalitis in humans is herpes simplex virus type I (HSE) which may cause inflammation of the brain. This can result in death. Other causes include infection by flaviviruses such as St. Louis encephalitis or West Nile virus, or by Togaviridae such as Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE), Western equine encephalitis (WEE) or Venezuelan equine encephalitis (VEE).

Bacterial lupus encephalitis…

Constipation is passage of small amounts of hard, dry bowel movements, usually fewer than three times a week. People who have lupus and constipation may have difficult and painful bowel movements.

Constipation and lupus causes large, hard stools to become lodged in the rectum. Watery stool can then leak out around the hardened stool. Lupus and Constipation also causes the muscles of the rectum to stretch, which weakens the muscles so they can’t hold stool in the rectum long enough for a person to reach a bathroom.

Constipation is a lupus symptom that is usually caused by a disturbance of how the intestines work. Constipation is one of the most common gastrointestinal complaints in the United States for people affected with lupus. Constipation affects almost everyone at one time or another.

The hard and dry stools of constipation occur when the intestines absorbs too much water. (Waste moves through the intestines and the intestines absorb water…

The advanced lupus symptoms vary, depending where the nervous tissue injury is situated. It is good to know that the nervous system contains three parts. The central nervous system comprises the brain and spinal cord, the peripheral nervous system nerve fibers that have the role to provide the skin and muscles the power needed for sensation and movement, and the third part is the autonomic nervous system that has the role to regulate spinal, peripheral nerves and to innervate the internal organs.

People with mild to advanced lupus erythematosus can experience the cognitive dysfunction. That is a group of symptoms that appear at about 50% of these patients, and we can mention here fatigue, memory impairment, feelings of confusion, and difficulty to express the thoughts. By taking a neuropsychological test or a test called the positron emission tomography; these symptoms can be clearly documented. It is known that cognitive dysfunction may come and go on its…

Digestive problems are common in lupus. The symptoms you may experience include nausea, diarrhea, constipation, or vomiting. Lupus vomiting can be caused by drugs you take for lupus, such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids. Sometimes, though, lupus vomiting occurs because your muscles are not properly moving waste through your intestines. This symptom is known as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and may be caused by irregularities in your nervous system.

The peritoneum is a thin lining on the inside of your abdomen. Inflammation of this lining can cause a condition called peritonitis. Most cases of peritonitis are due to an infection. However, inflammation caused by lupus can also cause a build-up of fluids in the abdominal cavity called ascites. The symptoms you may experience can include severe abdominal pain, tenderness when your belly is touched, nausea and vomiting. Ascites can also be caused by infection, pancreatitis, liver disease, cancer, or other conditions, so your doctor may…

Many otherwise individuals suffering from lupus will commonly have symptoms from disorders of the swallowing tube (esophagus), stomach, upper intestine (duodenum), small intestine and colon, gallbladder, liver and pancreas. All these especially lupus swallowing are parts of the gastrointestinal tract. Symptoms arising from disorders of these organs are very common in people who don’t have SLE, so of course these symptoms are also common in lupus sufferers. We need to recognize that just because we suffer from intestinal symptoms and we have lupus, does not necessarily mean that we are developing a complication of the lupus itself.

Much of lupus patients suffer from swallowing disorders. This is described as a burning discomfort behind the breastbone, and radiating from the pit of the stomach towards the neck, sometimes towards the neck, sometimes associated with regurgitation of food of fluid into the throat, and being a sufficient nuisance to impair the quality of life.
People with lupus swallowing…

The shoulder is the most movable joint in the body. However, it is an unstable joint because of the range of motion allowed. For people leaving with lupus shoulder pain happens more than often. The shoulder is easily subject to injury because the ball of the upper arm is larger than the shoulder socket that holds it. To remain stable, the shoulder must be anchored by its muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Some shoulder problems arise from the disruption of these soft tissues as a result of injury or from overuse or underuse of the shoulder. Other problems arise from a degenerative process in which tissues break down and no longer function well.

Shoulder pain may be localized or may be referred to areas around the shoulder or down the arm. Disease within the body (such as gallbladder, liver, or heart disease, or disease of the cervical spine of the neck) also may generate pain that travels…