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What Is It?

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (sis-TEM-ick LOO-pus err-ah-theme-ahTOE-sus) is a chronic (long-lasting) rheumatic disease which affects joints, muscles and other parts of the body. Lupus involves inflammation (the immune system's response to kill foreign agents, virus, bacteria). Systemic lupus erythematosus involves chronic inflammation that can affect many parts of the body, including:

• Heart
• Lungs
• Skin
• Joints
• Blood-forming organs
• Kidneys
• Nervous system

There are several types of lupus:

• Discoid lupus affects the skin.
• Drug-induced lupus occurs because of a reaction to drugs. Symptoms, however, disappear once the drugs are discontinued.
• Crossover, or overlap, syndromes indicate features that overlap with another rheumatic disease.

What Are the Symptoms?

The following classification of 11 symptoms helps doctors tell the difference between people who have lupus and people who have other connective tissue disorders:

• Malar (MAY-lar) rash (a butterfly shaped rash over the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose)
• Discoid rash (scaly, disk-shaped sores on the face, neck and/or chest)
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Oral ulcers
• Arthritis (pain, stiffness in joints)
• Serositis (inflammation of the lining around the heart, lungs, and/or abdomen, causing pain and shortness of breath)
• Kidney problems (protein leak)
• Central nervous system problems
• Blood problems (anemia)
• Problems with the immune system (risk of infection)
• Antinuclear antibodies (autoantibodies that react against the body's own cells)

Other symptoms include:

• Anemia
• Fatigue
• Fever
• Skin rash
• Muscle aches
• Nausea
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Swollen glands Lack of appetite
• Sensitivity to cold (Raynaud's phenomenon)
• Weight loss

What Causes It?

The cause is unknown.

How Is It Diagnosed?

Lupus is sometimes difficult to diagnose because there is no single set of symptoms. A physical exam and a blood test can detect a group of antibodies found in the blood of almost all people with lupus. Some other lab tests include:

• A compliment test (C3, C4, CH50, CH100) measures the amount of complementary proteins circulating in the blood.
• A sedimentation rate (ESR) or C-reactive protein (CRP) may be used to measure inflammation levels.
• A urine analysis issued to detect kidney problems.
• Chest X-rays may be taken to detect lung damage.
• An EKG can detect heart problems.

Treatment Options

• Medications: aspirin and other anti-inflammatory drugs, NSAIDs, Antimalarial drugs, Corticosteroids, Immunosuppressants
• Exercise
• Diet/rest
• Skin/sun protection

Who Is At Risk?

• Lupus affects women about 8 to 10 times as often as men and often occurs around the ages of 18 to 45.
• Lupus occurs more often in African Americans.
• Lupus can occur in young children or in older people.
• Studies suggest that certain people may inherit the tendency to get lupus. New cases of lupus are more common in families where one member already has the disease.

More Information About Lupus

Resources and Suggestions

• Consult your physician.
• Visit Your Arthritis Store to request the free Lupus brochure. You'll also find other helpful products, including the book Toward Healthy Living: A Wellness Journal . This beautiful journal was specifically designed for people living with chronic illness.
• Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
  2000 L Street, NW, Suite 710
  Washington, DC 20036
  Tel: 202-349-1155
  Fax: 202-349-1156
  http://www.lupus.org/