Several forms of lupus that affect the body’s autoimmune system have been identified. In general, these forms affect the skin, heart, and other body parts.  These forms may manifest themselves differently depending on the type and severity of the disease.

One of the most common forms of lupus is known as systemic lupus. This form is what is usually implied by the use of the word lupus. Systemic lupus can progress in a mild or severe fashion and affect some major organs in the process. One major symptom of systemic lupus is the inflammation of organ parts such as the kidney. When the kidney is affected, the body faces difficulties in filtering waste and other product from the blood.

Another symptom is the increase of blood pressure in the lungs. The inflammation of tissues in the nervous system and blood flow in the brain are two more symptoms of systemic lupus. These symptoms can lead to…

For people diagnosed with lupus and scleroderma, their autoimmune system attacks the body’s tissues. Two major forms of SLE scleroderma have been identified.

The first one is called limited systemic lupus scleroderma which involves a cutaneous manifestation around the hands, arms and face. In addition, a sort of hypertension might occur around the pulmonary arteries. This hypertension is one of the most serious complications for those affected with lupus scleroderma.

Diffuse systemic scleroderma and lupus when combined can progress rapidly. This progression is likely to affect the large areas of the skin as well as other organs including the lungs, heart, and kidneys.  In some cases, patients might face other types of scleroderma. These other types might manifest themselves systematically around the skin only and rarely around the face.

For those diagnosed with the cutaneous form of scleroderma, the symptoms might progress the majority of time and include pulmonary complications. If the symptoms are not treated appropriately, the disease might…

A condition that can afflict people with systemic lupus erythematosus is lupus nephritis, which has different SLE class categories. The lupus class is usually based on the severity of the lupus nephritis condition. Lupus nephritis is a condition that affects the kidneys. It happens when the kidneys become inflamed by the chronic disease. There are many different symptoms that can indicate lupus nephritis, including weight gain, dark colored urine, high blood pressure, and swelling of the limbs and extremities.

There are five different classes of lupus nephritis, and these are determined based on a biopsy of the kidneys. Class I is the rarest type of lupus nephritis, and is only seen is 5 percent of patients. Class V is seen in about 10 percent of patients. Class II affects about 20 percent of patients, and class III is seen in about 25 percent. This makes class IV the most common class of lupus nephritis, affecting 40 percent…

The different types of lupus may have different variants classified under them as well. One variant of discoid lupus erythematosus is lupus panniculitis, also known as lupus profundus. This condition can occur in people who have already been diagnosed with a type of lupus such as discoid lupus or cutaneous lupus, which are both types of lupus that affect the skin. This condition can occur in people of any age or gender, although it tends to occur in women more often. It can occur in the early or later stages of discoid or cutaneous lupus, so it can be unpredictable for the lupus patient and their doctor.

The symptoms of lupus panniculitis are typically visible. Lupus panniculitis symptoms are usually large nodules that typically occur on the face and scalp. These nodules occur directly under the skin in the underlying fat layer. They can be felt and typically seen, making them fairly easy to diagnose. These nodules…

There are many different conditions that are associated with lupus. One condition that is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus is lupus cerebritis. Usually caused in lupus patients due to inflammation, SLE cerebritis can be a very serious and dangerous condition, and it should be treated as soon as possible. Anyone with possible lupus cerebritis symptoms should be seen by a medical professional. Symptoms can include mild to severe headaches, dizziness, involuntary movements, seizures, stroke, or dementia. Tests can help to determine if a patient has lupus cerebritis, such as blood tests or imaging tests, like a CAT scan or MRI scan.

Lupus cerebritis is essentially inflammation of the brain tissue. It can be caused due to the disease attacking the own body. It can also be caused by an infection. It typically occurs with other symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus, such as facial rashes, joint pain, and fatigue. It is estimated that over half of people who are diagnosed with…

While there are only four major types of lupus, there are many different lupus variants under the different types. One variant is known as chilblain lupus, and it falls under the discoid lupus erythematosus classification. Discoid lupus, or cutaneous lupus, is a type of lupus that only affects the skin. Chilblain lupus erythematosus also effects the skin, but in a different way. While people with discoid lupus usually experience a rash on their face and body, patients with chilblain lupus will have nodules on the extremities, such as their fingers and toes. These nodules may also occur on the nose, knees, calves, heels of the feet, and ears. The nodules are typically very swollen, and are usually purple, blue, or red in color. They may be tender or very painful to the touch, and they may also be itchy.

Exposure to the cold can exacerbate these nodules, so patients who have them should take proper care in…

There are four main types of lupus, but these types of lupus can also have different variants. One variant of lupus that falls under the category of cutaneous lupus erythematosus is lupus profundus. This type of lupus is also known as lupus erythematosus profundus, lupus panniculitis, or subcutaneous lupus erythematosus. It is not as common as other types of lupus, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, and it can develop at any age.

Lupus profundus affects the layer of fat that lies directly underneath the skin. Diagnosis this type of lupus is not as difficult as with other types since it is usually visible. The symptoms typically occur on the face. The symptoms are usually nodules that occur from inflammation. These are typically large in size and they are noticeable and can be felt as hard lumps under the skin. As the disease progresses, these nodules will turn into dents as the fat cells underneath the skin are…

When someone presents with symptoms of lupus, a doctor will want to find the lupus classification during the diagnosis process. There are many different types of lupus.  Some are rarer than others. The most common type of lupus is known as systemic lupus erythematosus. This type of lupus is also the type of lupus that has the most symptoms. If someone has a SLE classification, they could have symptoms that affect the joints, kidneys, heart, skin, nervous system, and hormones.

Another type of lupus is discoid or cutaneous lupus. This type of lupus only affects the skin. It is the second most common type of lupus. The most common symptoms of this type of lupus include rashes on the body. These rashes are usually present on the skin that is exposed to sunlight.

Two rarer types of lupus include neonatal lupus and drug induced lupus. Neonatal lupus occurs in infants, and it typically resolves on its own.…

If some presents with some of the symptoms of lupus, a doctor will probably want to run an ana lupus test. This is also known as a SLE ana test. This type of test is a blood test, so it will be done at a laboratory, where they will draw some of your blood with a needle and then test it. An ana test can come back either positive or negative. A negative test result means that things are in the normal range. A positive test result means something is abnormal. While this could signal that lupus is active in the body, a positive result does not automatically mean a diagnosis of lupus. There are many other factors to consider as well.

An ana test for lupus is not foolproof. It can come back as a false negative or a false positive.  In order to make sure a person is really suffering from lupus, a doctor will want to rule…

Lupus pneumonitis refers to the inflammation of the lung caused by complications from SLE. There are three known SLE pneumonitis types that are the sub-acute, acute, and chronic lupus pneumonitis.

These three types have one thing in common known as pleuritis. Pleuritis is mainly identified by inflammation of the pleura which is the layered membrane surrounding the lungs. In rare cases, fluid might form at an abnormal level. If that fluid escapes, a condition known as pleural effusion. Given that any form of inflammation of the pleura is the cause of pressure on the lungs, lupus patients experiencing that condition are prone to face difficulty breathing.  The inflammation can be detected with X-rays and can be treated with an oral intake of corticosteroids.

The acute form of lupus pneumonitis is characterized by chest pain that can result in shortness of breath and sometimes dry caught. The best form of treatment of the acute form of pneumonitis lupus is the intake…

For those affected with lupus dermatitis, the skin is the most common body part affected. The symptoms associated with SLE dermatitis vary depending on your type and degree of the disease. These symptoms include rashes and blisters on the skins as well as itching and scarring. When the rashes evolve, the skin might swell and result in more symptoms.

The allergen is the main carrying agent of lupus dermatitis. The contact of allergen with any body part including the skin is the main cause of symptoms listed above. These symptoms are not only limited to the skin but might progress to the neck, wrist and foot among others. In some rare cases, the genital areas might be affected with rashes. This type of symptom usually occurs when the severity of the disease is high.

Despite the fact that symptoms related to lupus dermatitis may appear differently, some of the most frequent symptoms include dryness and itchiness around…

Lupus skin disease generally occurs in 3 forms that can be ranked as chronic, acute, and sub-acute.  These three forms attack the skin in the forms of lesions. The main sign of chronic cutaneous form of the lupus is shape like a disk and usually appear on body parts such as the scalp. This sign is a sore that is similar to the sores observed in systemic lupus.

In certain cases, the chronic lupus might evolve to a discoid lupus with red and thick disks located around the scalp and skin. If not treated properly, the lesions resulting from lupus related symptoms might produce scares and other discoloration of the skin. On the scalp, these lesions might result in hair loss that might be permanent depending on your initial condition.

The sub-acute cutaneous lupus produces lesions that can be identified by red spots on the skin shaped like a ring. These lesions are likely to occur on parts of the…

Lupus dle is one of the types of the lupus disease. The two most common body parts that are affected by SLE dle are the head and the neck. In some cases, the signs of SLE dle can be similar to those of systemic lupus. Four subsets of lupus dle are similar to systemic lupus. These subsets are lesions around the neck, lesions on the hands and feet, lesions on the mouth, and finally first degree lupus lesions that can affect the skin.

The lesions affecting the areas of the neck can be seen above the neck near the scalp and below the neck near the spin. The lesions affecting the mouth have been identified in other mucous organs such as the inner cheeks and the nostril. In all four subsets, the lesions might affect the lip. In that case, these lesions might appear without warning and become painful at their worst state.

The lesions in the subsets are similar…

Discoid lupus is a form of lupus that affects the skin and is characterized by lesions that are circular and widespread. Often, these lesions are localized to a specific area of the skin. The appearance of discoid lupus on scalp can happen and creates certain dysfunctions. Indeed, when the immune system is dysfunctional, the body’s healthy cells and tissues are mistakenly attacked.

This attack is generally the source of lesions on some parts of the skin. These lesions can worsen when the skin is exposed to the sun too often. However, the lesions can worsen even without an overexposure to the sun. In that case, the lesions can appear on the chest, back, or legs. The lesions in discoid lupus are indicators of the development of systemic lupus which can sometimes involve serious symptoms.

Discoid lupus on scalp is very common in women than men. The age range for the disease to appear in women…

Dermal lupus is a form of lupus that usually affects the skin. Some symptoms of dermal lupus affecting the skin might include rashes, photosensitivity when exposed to sunlight and other ultra violets, and ulcers on the mouth or nose.

Concerning dermal lupus rashes, they can appear in a variety of ways. One way is by a distinctive butterfly looking rash mostly visible around the cheeks or bridge of the nose. The rash can be red, pink, or just flat. Sometimes, the rash can create mild blushes around the face.

There are several types of rashes that can appear in the dermal form of lupus. One of these rashes is known as discoid rash. The discoid rash is shaped as a coin and is generally oval similarly to a disk with a red like color.  The discoid rashes may cause light or dark colored lesions that can be detected on the scalp, on the face, and areas that are usually exposed…

Tumid lupus erythematosus is a rare but distinctive entity that is characterized by plaques that appear on patients trunks. Tumid lupus symptoms may be either acute, that is developing dramatically over days, or sub-acute, which takes weeks to develop. Initial symptoms of tumid lupus appear in the lower back pain and in the legs.

Several patients have reported experiencing muscle spasms, a general feeling of discomfort, headache, fever, and a loss of appetite. The disease is likely to affect the proper functioning of the spinal cords. Depending on which parts of the spinal cord are attacked, certain patients may experience respiratory problems.

Based on the symptoms, the following four distinctive signs of tumid lupus can be identified: joints and body parts pain, muscle weakness, sensory alteration, and bowel and bladder dysfunction.  These signs may also manifest themselves by a lack of coordination and strength of the hand and arm. A full progression of the disease without proper treatment may lead…

Lupus myelitis is a neurological disorder caused by an inflammation affecting both sides of the spinal cord. These SLE myelitis caused inflammation can damage or destroy the myelin, which is the fatty insulating substance covering nerve cell fibers. This damage is the main cause of scars around the nervous system which are responsible for the lack of communication between the nerves and other body organs.

Lupus myelitis generally appears as a sudden onset of lower back pain and muscle weakness. Some patients will experience several abnormal feelings in the toes and fingers that can progressive that can become severe if not treated. One of the symptoms of SLE myelitis is a loss of spinal cord function which can lead to paralysis, urinary retention, or loss of bowel function.

Although some patients recover from lupus myelitis with minor problems, others suffer permanent impairments that affect their ability to perform ordinary daily tasks. The segment of the spinal cord at which the…

Chilblain lupus erythematosus is a form of lupus. The main characteristics of chilblain lupus erythematosus are blue or red nodules and lesions. These lesions generally appear on the nose, ears, fingers, hands, and calves of the patient. The nodules or plaques of chilblain lupus erythematosus appear most prominent over the dorsal joints of the hands.

In about half of all cases, the chilblain lupus lesions developed years after the first lupus symptoms are detected, although the lesions can occur at the same time as the first symptoms. In about 15 percent of patients diagnosed with lupus will develop systemic lupus. This percentage is an indication that chilblain lupus and systemic lupus can have very similar symptoms and signs.

The word chilblain is derived from the Anglo-Saxon words meaning, “to be cold.” One of the primary chilblains signs appear in the form of localized inflammatory vascular lesions that are caused by cold or sun exposure and smoking. Generally, chilblain lupus patients…

For people affected with lupus skin lesions that appear on the lips, cheeks, and nose with a series of pain, lupus vulgaris might be the cause. As seen in many lupus vulgaris pictures, the main feature of the disease is pain around the affected body parts that appear as red disks. In certain cases, the disks might appear as brown lesions with a certain consistency. Some symptoms of lupus vulgaris might appear around the face, back of the ears, and cheeks as lesions. The main consequences of these lesions might be an ulcer of the skin. This ulcer is probable only if the condition rests untreated.

Lupus vulgaris pictures are particularly demonstrative of how destructive the disease can be. The following links provide pictures detailing how the symptoms of the disease appear and how they look like at their highest peaks. Some of the pictures feature lesions resulting from skin rashes around the face and ears.

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Disseminated lupus erythematosus (DLE) is one form of the lupus disease that has symptoms that generally affect the skin, joints, and other vital organs. When one has DLE, his/her body immune system attack its own tissues.

Some common symptoms of DLE include fatigue, chest pain, and fever. These symptoms may vary depending on your type and degree of the disease. Furthermore, the majority of people diagnosed with DLE may experience mouth sore, malaise, and hair loss.

Other people may experience skin rashes when they are exposed for too long to sunlight. This skin rash may manifest itself as a butterfly over the cheeks and bridge of the nose. DLE is also known to affect other organs such as the digestive track organs, the brain and nervous system, and the lungs.

DLE Treatment Options

The goal of the majority of disseminated lupus erythematosus (DLE) treatment is to control symptoms. Mild DLE symptoms may be treated with…

Discoid lupus disease is a form of lupus that generally affects the skin in the form of rashes. The rashes usually appear on the face, neck, or scalp, and sometimes on other areas of the skin. In some cases, severe discoid lupus symptoms may result in scarring. The treatments that are usually recommended for severe discoid lupus are strong immunosuppressant.

This recommendation is highlighted by a study which reviewed the cases of adult patients with severe and persistent symptoms who were treated with the drug Raptiva. These symptoms were mainly located in the face and the scalp. Moreover, these patients have been tested for the presence of ANA antibodies.

Researchers found that the majority of patients who received the drug Raptiva responded well to the drug and the majority of lupus related symptoms were treated. Also, these improvements occurred rapidly, with the average response to treatment being 5 ½ weeks.

Two of the tested patients developed new lupus symptoms after…

Lupus pernio is the most characteristic cutaneous lesion of sarcoidosis. Lupus pernio sarcoidosis is usually identified by lesions that appear over the body. These lesions are typically red or purple, swollen with shiny skin changes on the nose or cheeks.

Another characteristic of lupus pernio sarcoidosis is the apparition of several cutaneous rashes. These rashes are generally observed in African-Americans and Asians. Dermatologic manifestations of sarcoidosis are divided into two groups: specific and non-specific.

The first step in the treatment of lupus pernio sarcoidosis is the identification of the typical sarcoidosis lesions and the recognition of their associations with the evolvement of the disease.

In some cases, these lesions are not specific and can be similar to lesions observed in other diseases. One of these non-specific lesions is called Erythema nodosum which is a benign lesion.

What are Some Lupus Pernio Sarcoidosis Evaluation Options

A first option in the evaluation process of lupus pernio sarcoidosis is…

Lupus nephritis is just one form of SLE. Similarly to other types of lupus, Lupus nephritis diet options can be tailored to fit your needs as well as the degree and severity of the disease. The following are recommendations to take into account when implementing a lupus nephritis diet.

It is important that patients limit the intake of salt. Indeed, a large intake of salt can cause your blood level to rise at a higher level than expected. Moreover, a high level of salt in the blood for lupus patients is able to absorb blood vessels moisture thus causing hypertension. Urinary infection and heart failure are two direct consequences of high blood level. For these reasons, salt should be used moderately in your diet. Your doctor will decide when it would be appropriate to adjust your salt intake.

Some seasonings have the ability to damage the kidney in certain cases. Some of these seasonings might include…

Lupus external symptoms can affect most body parts. Indeed, the skin is the most vulnerable body part that is affected by lupus related symptoms. These skin symptoms may appear as rash and lesions. In general, the skin rashes manifest themselves on the cheek and across the patient’s nose as slight blushes and several distinct reddish dots which are referred to as molar rashes.  The skin rashes usually mark the start of the benign stage of the systemic lupus erythematosus.

One of the features of skin rashes is the appearance of thick patches on the skin that are usually red. These patches are the distinct feature of another type of lupus called discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). In this type of lupus only the skin is involved and some of the external symptoms can include a change of skin color or pigmentation and rashes at various parts of the body including the limbs, the stomach, and the shoulders.

These external symptoms may…

Lupus pernio is a raised and hardened lesion on the skin.  It often is purplish in color and resembles frostbite. It is usually seen on the ears, cheeks, lips, nose, hands, and forehead.  Lupus pernio pictures can be found at Dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu and Images.rheumatology.org.

Lupus pernio is the most characteristic lesion of sarcoidosis.  Sarcoidosis is a disease in which abnormal collections of chronic inflammatory cells form as nodules in multiple organs.  Usually sarcoid skin disease has no likelihood of systemic involvement.  Lupus perino is one exception.  Lupus perino is most common in African-American women.

Microscopically lupus pernio sarcoidosis resembles lupus vulgaris, which are painful tuberculosis related skin lesions.  Biopsy shows granulomatous infiltration.  Granulomatous infiltration of the nasal mucosa and respiratory tract is strongly associated with nasal lesion.  Perino lupus and cutaneous sarcoidosis may occur without systemic involvement however they are likely to develop systemic involvement in the future.

Chilblain lupus erythematosus is closely related to lupus pernio.  In this disease histologic…

There are several different types of lupus, or SLE types, and each is treated differently from the next.  So, what are the types of lupus?  Primarily there are 4 types of lupus, and they are as follows:

1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) – This type is what people generally refer to as lupus.  This is an autoimmune disease.  That means that anti-bodies which normally protect the body from germs, viruses, etc, begin to attack the body’s healthy tissue as well.  This type can affect any part of the body.  It is chronic, so as of now it can be treated but not cured.
2. Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus – This form of lupus involves (and is limited to) the skin.  People with this type of lupus often have rashes and lesions of different kinds.  Hair loss and skin pigment changes are also common in this type.
3. Drug-induced Lupus Erythematosus – This kind of lupus is caused by certain

…

What is systematic lupus?  There really is no such thing as systematic lupus.  What people are commonly referring to when they speak of systematic lupus, systematic lupus erythematosus, and systematic lupus symptoms is actually a condition called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.  As you can see, it is a common mistake.

The ‘systemic’ term in systemic lupus means that it involves an entire system, or that it affects the entire body.  That is exactly what happens in this disease.  Systemic Lupus, not systematic lupus, is an autoimmune disease in which any part of the entire body can be subject to attack by its own antibodies.

More specifically, what happens in this disease is that something goes wrong with your immune system.  The anti-bodies, which normally fight of germs, bacteria, viruses, and the like, can no longer tell these from your body’s healthy tissue and begin destroying it.  There are several forms of lupus, but this systemic form is what…

Subacute Cutaneous Lupus is a clinically distinct subset of lupus that lies somewhere between discoid lupus erythematosus and systemic lupus erythematosus.    For example, some people who have discoid lupus may never develop the systemic version of the disease.  Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) affects women more often than men and Caucasians more than any other ethnic group.  Women between the ages of 15 – 40 carry the most risk.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus causes dry, symmetrical, ring-shaped lesions.  The rashes can occur all over the body, but normally on the upper back and chest.  They are usually non-itchy and do not scar.  Lesions are usually scaly and evolve as polycyclic annular lesions or psoriasiform plaques.   Papulosquamous, or scaly bumps, may also appear.  Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus pictures are available at the following websites:

• Dermnetnz.org
• Images.rheumatology.org
• Dermatlas.med.jhmi.edu

About 85% of people with subacute cutaneous lupus are extremely photosensitive.  Rashes and lesions will usually manifest worse after sunlight exposure.…

Acute lupus is a temporary but severe inflammatory reaction that is produced by the body’s immune system.  Unlike systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is a chronic auto immune disease, acute lupus is fleeting.  Acute lupus may suddenly flare up in an organ system and then disappear.

Its full name is acute lupus erythematosus.  There are several acute forms of lupus, however, acute lupus usually refers to acute cutaneous lupus erthematosus.  This cutaneous (or skin) condition is characterized by a bilateral malar erythema, or butterfly rash, which forms across the cheeks of the face and over the bridge of the nose.  The butterfly shaped rash is usually reminiscent of sunburn, and lesions can also appear on the arms, legs, and the rest of the body.  The rashes and lesions that form in acute lupus usually worsen in exposure to sunlight.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a nonscarring photosensitive dermatosis.  It usually occurs in patients with SLE, or it may have been…

One of the four main types of lupus is neonatal lupus.  This form of lupus affects the infants of women with lupus.  See, lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s antibodies don’t perform their job correctly.  These antibodies are meant to attack germs, viruses, and other foreign invaders, but in diseases like lupus the antibodies act upon the body’s own healthy tissue.  In neonatal lupus erythematosus, these antibodies will act upon the infant in the womb.  Scary thought right?

Luckily, because of advances in medicine and research, this is now a rare condition.  With proper testing during pregnancy, doctors can now identify at-risk mothers and the infant can be treated before and after birth.  Most infants, whose mothers have lupus, are born entirely healthy.

Of course, there are times when these babies are born with neonatal syndrome at birth.  The infant can have liver problems, a low blood cell count, or even a skin rash…

This article is a discussion of the different kinds of Lupus.  People are affected in vastly different way by each type and each type requires different specialists to treat it.  There are four main types of lupus, they are:

1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus – The most common of the lupus kinds, this is what people generally refer to as ‘lupus’.  This type can affect any organ or organ system in the body.  The most complications involve the kidneys, lungs, arteries, nervous system and brain.
2. Cutaneious Lupus Erythematosus – This type of lupus is limited to the skin. Rashes and lesions form on the skin.  A discoid rash is most common.  It is called a discoid rash because of its round shape; it is raised, scaly, and red, but does not itch.  Ten percent of people with cutaneious lupus will develop systemic lupus.
3. Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus – This is a type that is caused by certain prescription

…

Lupus Vasculitis (SLE Vasculitis) is an inflammation of blood vessels caused by lupus.   This article will evaluate Lupus Vasculitis, its risks, and its causes.  Please read on:

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease where the antibodies, which normally protect the system, begin attacking healthy tissue.  Vasculitis is a condition of that disease (and other diseases) by which blood vessels become inflamed.  Often, this is because they are attacked by antibodies.  As you can see, vasculitis and lupus often go hand-in-hand.

Sometimes vasculitis has nothing to do with lupus.  There are rare cases where vasculitis is formed when bacteria, viruses, and fungi infect the blood vessel.  When white blood cells attack these foreign invaders, they damage the blood vessel as well, resulting in vasculitis.

More often, the cause of vasculitis is an allergic reaction that occurs and antigens are formed.  If the antigens remain in the blood too long, they may deposit into the tissue.  Later on, white blood…

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), known as lupus, is an auto immune disease in which antibodies mistakenly attack healthy tissue.  Patients are diagnosed with CNS Lupus (CNS SLE) when the lupus attacks the central nervous system.   This can be a very serious and very complicated situation for both doctors and patients.

The central nervous system consists of the brain and spinal cord.  It requires an uninterrupted flow of blood to supply its tissues.  It is believed that symptoms of CNS Lupus, or CNS SLE, develop because of blood flow interruption which causes the cells and nervous system to be injured.  It may also be a result of nerve cells or blood vessels being injured, and symptoms are dependent on the extent of tissue injury and the location of that injury.

Lupus CNS is a difficult condition to pin down.  Symptoms are not always easy to spot.  They can be as subtle as mild headaches, altered mental activity, and light depression.  Memory…

When lupus attacks the brain it can be very devastating, as the brain is central to everything that will feel and do.  This article discusses lupus and the brain, taking a look at the effects it can have on a person both mentally and physically.  Lupus of the brain is not an easy thing to read about, but knowledge of the disease could be vital.

Cerebral lupus is not an easy thing to diagnose.  Many of the symptoms of cerebral lupus are often already present in a person that has lupus.  Some can also be easily mistaken as side effects of a drug that the lupus patient is taking.  However, the symptoms are important to know, especially for those that have been diagnosed with some form of lupus.  Symptoms of Cerebral lupus in the brain include:

• Bruising
• Fatigue
• Headaches
• Weight Loss
• Memory Loss
• Seizures

When trying to diagnose cerebral lupus, or brain lupus,…

No one can argue that it is scary when you are first diagnosed with lupus.  Thousands of questions race through your mind.  What kind of doctor treats lupus?  What kind of disease is lupus?  What types of treatments will I receive?  This article will answer these questions and more.

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can cause damage to any part of the body.  Basically, in lupus, something goes wrong with your body’s immune system.  Instead of just fighting off viruses, bacteria, and other types of foreign invaders, it begins to turn on your body’s healthy tissue as well.  In other words, having an autoimmune disease means that your antibodies can no longer tell the difference between foreign invaders, such as germs, and healthy parts of your body.

So, what type of doctor treats lupus?  Typically it is a rheumatologist because they specialize in joints, muscles, and bones.  This is because autoimmune diseases often affect these parts of the…

Cerebral Lupus, or Cerebral SLE, is a form of lupus that in which the brain tissue becomes inflamed.  This type of lupus is not very common, although 24-50% of all lupus patients in the United States suffer some type of nervous system involvement at one point of time or another.  This type of lupus can, however, be very serious.  For example, if brain swelling should occur, it could be fatal.   Cerebral SLE patients often suffer strokes and seizures as well.

Symptoms

Cerebral lupus symptoms are not always easily recognized.  One symptom to take note of is bruising if you begin bruising easily.  To bruise easily is often a sign of a low platelet count, and therefore can sometimes be an indication of some kind of immunity problem.

Fatigue is another symptom of cerebral lupus; however, it is also very common in all types of lupus.  This should be treated seriously though, because it could be a…

Neuropsychiatric Lupus, or Neuropsychiatric SLE, is a syndrome that is the result of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) affecting the central or peripheral nervous systems.  Until recently there were no universally accepted criteria for identifying neuropsychiatric manifestations of SLE.  Terms like “lupus cerebritis” and “CNS lupus” were used as a catch-all for any neuropsychiatric symptoms that were not easily explained.

In 1999, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) met. At this meeting they devised nomenclature and case definitions for neuropsychiatric lupus syndromes.  There is now a framework for identifying and evaluating 19 neuropsychiatric syndromes that are found in SLE.

Neuropsychiatric Lupus Symptoms

The two most common symptoms of neuropsychiatric lupus are frequent severe and frequent headaches, coupled with a radical decline in motor function.  Commonly, people begin to have trouble walking and balancing.  Other manifestations of neuropsychiatric lupus are depression, anxiety, psychosis, dementia, delirium, cognitive dysfunction, impaired memory, movement disorders, seizures, and strokes.

If neuropsychiatric SLE symptoms…

Pediatric Lupus Systemic Erythematosus affects between 5,000- 10,000 children.  The type of lupus that affects children is referred to as childhood lupus or lupus pediatric.  Pediatric lupus (pediatric sle) is more complicated than adult lupus due to children’s emotional and physical growth.  Only twenty years ago the survival rate for children with lupus was poor.  Since then, there have been major advances in the treatment and diagnosis of pediatric lupus (pediatric sle).

Lupus in children counts for up to 20% of all the lupus patients worldwide.  Females are still more likely to get it than males, however males which are born with Klinefelter’s disease (or have an extra X chromosome) develop lupus at a very high rate.  Pediatric lupus usually starts in late childhood or early adolescence (between the ages of 11-15).

Children and Play

Normally parents feel a sense of guilt about their child having lupus.  They believe that it is somehow a result of…

Neonatal lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare condition where antibodies from the mother act upon the infant in the womb.  The lupus newborn, which was born to a mother with lupus, may have a skin rash, low blood cell counts, or liver problems.  After several months these symptoms will last a few months.  Some infants can be born with a serious heart defect, but it can be fixed pace maker.

Physicians can now identify most at-risk mothers before these problems occur.  Treatment is administered during pregnancy and during the postpartum period.  Now most of these lupus newborns are born completely healthy.

The Lupus Mother

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body.  In lupus the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue because it can no longer ‘tell’ these cells from foreign invaders such as germs and viruses.  Complications can arise when a woman with…

Systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, is an autoimmune disorder. Lupus erythematosus mainly affects women of childbearing age, although it can affect anyone of any gender or age. Lupus erythematosus SLE affects a person’s entire body since it is a complex autoimmune disorder. This can include a person’s immune system, their nervous system, the blood vessels, major organs such as the heart, lungs, liver, and kidneys, and the skin. Without treatment, lupus can be a frustrating and debilitating disease.  There are a variety of different symptoms that can be experienced throughout the course of the chronic disease.

Some of the earliest symptoms that can indicate systemic lupus erythematosus include extreme fatigue, changes in weight, whether it is weight gain or weight loss, joint pain and swelling, or skin rashes. One skin rash associated with lupus is known as the butterfly rash. This rash looks a butterfly spreading its wings across a person’s face. It goes across the cheeks…

One of the four types of lupus, systemic lupus is the most common type, affecting women more commonly than men. It is also called systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. This type of lupus affects the entire body, including the skin, the joints, vital organs such as the heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys, the nervous system, blood vessels, and the immune system. It typically affects people of childbearing age, although it has been diagnosed in people of all ages. Currently, there is no cure for systemic lupus, although a cure is being researched by professionals and lupus organizations. Many lupus organizations are fundraising money to help find a cure for systemic lupus erythematosus.

The earlier that systemic lupus is diagnosed, the sooner it can be treated. This means that people should be aware of the different systemic lupus symptoms that can occur early on in the disease. One of the first symptoms that may appear is an overwhelming…

When people are talking about lupus erythematous, they could be referring to a few different types of lupus. There are four major types of lupus, some of which share similar symptoms. Neonatal lupus is the rarest type of lupus. It affects newborn babies.  It can be passed on from healthy mothers who do not have lupus. Newborn babies with this disease will typically present with a rash. This rash will usually disappear on its own within the first few months of life.

Another type of lupus is drug-induced lupus erythematous. This type of lupus is caused by certain medications. Once the medication that is causing the lupus is stopped, the symptoms will typically go away on their own. It may take a few weeks for the medication to leave the body’s bloodstream for all the symptoms to cease.

Discoid lupus erythematous is also known as “lupus of the skin”. This is because this type of lupus has…

When most people are talking about lupus erythematosis, or just lupus in general, they are referring to systemic lupus erythematosis, or SLE. This is the most common form of lupus that people are affected by. This type of lupus affects the entire body, including the skin, vital organs, the nervous system, blood vessels, and the joints. It is the most severe form of lupus that requires the most treatment and care.

Other types of lupus can only affect the skin. This can be cutaneous lupus or discoid lupus erythematosis. The main symptoms of this type of lupus include skin rashes. Some people will also experience ulcers insider their mouth or their nose. This type of lupus can be treated with different types of corticosteroids and creams. A dermatologist is usually recommended for patients with this type of lupus.

Another type of lupus can be caused by certain medications. These medications can trigger lupus to occur in the…

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that has four major types. The most common type is known as systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. Systemic lupus erythematosus SLE is a chronic type of lupus for which there is currently no cure. It occurs nine times more often in women than in men, and it typically affects people of childbearing age, although it has been found in people of any age or gender. It is more common in people of non-European descent, such as African-Americans and Asians. While lupus is a chronic disease, it is manageable and it is not typically fatal with proper treatment and care.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is often characterized by periods of remission and flare ups. Lupus erythematosus systemic can affect many different parts of the body, including the joints, skin, nervous system, blood vessels, and vital organs, such as the heart, kidneys, lungs, and liver. It has a variety of different symptoms that can be experienced, including rashes…

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that typically affects people of childbearing age. This disease typically affects women more commonly than men. Systemic lupus erythematosus SLE is one of the four major types of lupus. This type of lupus is the most common. It has a variety of different symptoms that affect different parts of the body, including the skin, the nervous system, the immune system, and even vital organs such as the heart and the kidneys. People who have this disease can have problems with organ failure in the later stages of the condition. People of both genders may also have fertility issues.

The symptoms in SLE systemic lupus erythematosus can vary greatly from one person to the next. One common symptom that people have early on in the disease is a butterfly shaped rash. This rash usually crosses the face, spreading over both cheeks and the bridge of the nose. Another early symptom is…

Systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, is usually what people are referring to when they are talking about lupus. Lupus erythematosus SLE has a variety of different symptoms that can be experienced, since the disease affects the entire body. Some early signs that could indicate the disease include the characteristic butterfly shaped rash that spreads across the face, changes in weight, fatigue, and widespread joint paint. Early symptoms can come on slowly, so they may go unnoticed for long periods of time. Once someone notices the symptoms, it is important to see a medical professional as soon as possible and get tested for lupus or other medical conditions.

As the disease progresses, more symptoms may appear. Some symptoms can include rashes that occur on more areas of the body. Hair loss can also occur.  Since lupus is an autoimmune disease, people with the condition may also experience problems with their immune system as the disease goes on. They can be more…

One type of lupus is known as lupus erythematosus SLE. This stands for systemic lupus erythematosus. It is one of the four main types of lupus, and it is the most common type. When people are talking about the disease lupus, they are typically referring to systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. This type of lupus affects the entire body as well as its nervous system and vital organs, including the heart and kidneys. Systemic lupus erythematosus SLE requires frequent medical checkups as well as an aggressive ongoing treatment plan. This is to help reduce discomfort from symptoms as well as future organ damage from the disease.

There are many different symptoms of SLE erythematosus. Some of the early symptoms can include a butterfly shaped rash on the face, headaches, changes in weight, hair loss, and joint pain. If someone experiences these symptoms, they should make an appointment with their primary care physician for a checkup. These…

An autoimmune condition, lupus coagulant syndrome can occur on its own or in conjunction with certain types of lupus, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE. It can also occur in conjunction with other autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis or rheumatoid arthritis. It occurs when lupus antibodies are found within the body. These antibodies attack proteins found within the blood. This can lead to problems with blood clotting. Lupus anti coagulant syndrome can cause people to have too much blood clotting, leading to problematic conditions in the body. Problems with the lupus coagulant are seen more commonly in women rather than in men.

Lupus coagulant syndrome can be hard to diagnose, because some of the symptoms are not very noticeable. One symptom that may be noticed in woman is fertility problems or frequent miscarriages when trying to have a baby. This should signal to a woman that something is wrong. People may also experience headaches or migraines when they…

Lupus glomerulonephritis, also known as lupus nephritis, is a type of kidney disease that occurs in people with systemic lupus erythematosus. SLE glomerulonephritis occurs only in the systemic lupus erythematosus type because that lupus type is the condition that affects the body’s vital organs. Lupus nephritis is a condition that will require medical attention and treatment. It can be life-threatening if it goes untreated, so if symptoms begin to occur, a patient should consult their medical professional as soon as possible.

Diagnosing lupus glomerulonephritis can be difficult, since it may not have many symptoms. A person may have kidney issues going on and not even know it. That is why it is important for a person with lupus to keep an eye out for any symptoms relating to kidney disease. One of the first symptoms that can be noticed is swelling in the feet, ankles, or legs. A person may also notice some slight weight gain, as a person with…

There are four main types of lupus, one of them being cutaneous lupus, also known as lupus of the skin.  This type of lupus is not as common as systemic lupus erythematosus, and it does not affect the entire body’s nervous system and organs like SLE does. The most common symptom of cutaneous lupus is the distinctive butterfly rash that spreads across the face. This is the one of the first symptoms most often seen in many types of lupus. This rash can be smooth or raised, and it can range from being bright red and very noticeable to being a light pink. This rash forms a butterfly shape by going across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose.

Another common symptom in cutaneous lupus is the discoid rash. This rash is oval shaped and can appear anywhere on the body. It is most likely to appear on skin that is exposed to sunlight.…