| Also called: Discoid lupus, SLE, Subacute cutaneous | | | | may be red and warm, and may swell. Morning |
| lupus, Systemic lupus erythematosus | | | | stiffness may also be felt. Lupus arthritis often |
| If you have lupus, your immune system attacks | | | | occurs on both sides of the body at the same time, |
| healthy cells and tissues by mistake. This can damage | | | | particularly in the wrists, small joints of the hands, |
| your joints, skin, blood vessels and organs. There are | | | | elbows, knees, and ankles. |
| many kinds of lupus. The most common type, | | | | Hair loss (27 percent) |
| systemic lupus erythematosus, affects many parts | | | | Abnormal blood clotting problems (20 percent) |
| of the body. Discoid lupus causes a rash that doesn't | | | | Raynaud's phenomenon / fingers turning white and/or |
| go away. Subacute cutaneous lupus causes sores | | | | blue in the cold (17 percent) |
| after being out in the sun. Another type can be | | | | Seizures (15 percent) |
| caused by medication. Neonatal lupus, which is rare, | | | | Mouth or nose ulcers (12 percent) |
| affects newborns. | | | | Prevention of Lupus |
| Causes of Lupus | | | | Since doctors haven't determined the cause of lupus, |
| Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that | | | | there's no way to prevent it. You may be able to |
| instead of just attacking foreign substances, such as | | | | prevent flare-ups of the illness by avoiding exposure |
| bacteria and viruses, your immune system also turns | | | | to the sun as much as possible and using sunscreen |
| against healthy tissue. This leads to inflammation and | | | | when you are in the sun. |
| damage to various parts of the body, including the | | | | How is lupus treated? |
| joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and | | | | Treatment depends on the symptoms and test |
| brain. | | | | results. Medicines called corticosteroids can decrease |
| Family history/genetics: About 10% of people with | | | | swelling and inflammation by suppressing the immune |
| lupus have a family member with lupus. Major stress | | | | system. Additional immunosuppressive drugs related |
| or infection: If people have the genetic tendency to | | | | to cancer and drugs used to prevent rejection of |
| get lupus, extreme stress or an infection may trigger | | | | organ transplants may also be used. In severe cases, |
| the disease — but the blueprint for lupus has to | | | | your doctor may prescribe cyclophosphamide |
| already be there. One thing researchers know about | | | | (Cytoxan, Neosar) or mycophenolate (CellCept). |
| lupus is that it is not contagious. | | | | Newer experimental treatments include a drug called |
| Symptoms of Lupus | | | | rituximab (Rituxan). |
| Fatigue: About 90% of people with lupus have mild | | | | What is the prognosis? |
| to extreme fatigue.4 Even mild cases of lupus cause | | | | The prognosis for lupus varies widely depending on |
| an inability to engage in daily activities and exercise.5 | | | | the organs involved and the intensity of the |
| Increased fatigue is a classic sign that a symptom | | | | inflammatory reaction. The course of lupus is |
| flare is about to occur. | | | | commonly chronic and relapsing, often with long |
| Joint and muscle pain: About 95% of people with | | | | periods of remission. Most individuals with lupus do |
| lupus have joint pain (arthritis) at some time. About | | | | not develop serious health problems and have a |
| 70% of people with lupus report that joint and | | | | normal lifespan with periodic doctor visits and |
| muscle pain was their first sign of the disease.4 Joints | | | | treatments with various drugs. |