Systemic lupus erythematosus (patient information)

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Lupus Erythematosus
Typical "butterfly"-like rash over the cheeks in lupus
ICD-10 L93, M32
ICD-9 710.0
OMIM 152700
DiseasesDB 12782
MedlinePlus 000435
eMedicine med/2228  emerg/564
MeSH D008180

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Jinhui Wu, MD

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What is systemic lupus erythematosus?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease characterized by acute and chronic inflammation of various tissues of the body. It may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, even brain, heart and lugs. The underlying cause of systemic lupus erythematosus is not clear. Clinical data show it affects nine times as many women as men. Common symptoms include fatigue, low fever, muscle pain, joint pain, lost of appetite, facial butterfly rash, sensitivity to sunlight, chest pain, and swollen lymph nodes. The patient may be diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus when he/she appears 4 or more of 11 creteria designated by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR). Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus depends on symptoms. The aim of medications is to relieve the symptoms and decrease the inflammation. Outcomes have improved in recent years. Now the 10-year survival rate for systemic lupus erythematosus patients is greater than 85%.

How do I know if I have systemic lupus erythematosus and what are the symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus?

Symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus vary from person to person, depending the organs affected. And the symptoms may come and go.

  • The most common symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Other symptoms depends on the orgnas affected.

Image courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology

Who is at risk for systemic lupus erythematosus?

The underlying cause of this autoimmune disease is not clear. Clinical data show the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus is associated with the following factors:

How to know you have systemic lupus erythematosus?

The American College of Rheumatology has designated 11 criteria for classification. If the patient has four or more criteria, he/she can be diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus.

  • Malar rash: This butterfly rash below the eyes may be flat or elevated.
  • Discoid rash: These are red, raised patches with scaling of the overlying skin. A subgroup of patients have "discoid lupus" with only skin involvement and do not have systemic lupus erythematosus. All patients with discoid lupus should be screened for systemic involvement.
  • Sensitivity to sunligh: A rash develops in response to sun exposure.
  • Oral ulcers: The doctor can observe painless sores in the nose or mouth.
  • Arthritis: The arthritis of lupus usually demonstrate swelling and tenderness of the joints.
  • Serositis: This means an inflammation of various "sacs" or membranes, such as pericarditis, pleurisy or peritonitis. Patients with these inflammations may demonstrate symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, or forced posture.
  • Kidney disease: Patients with lupus may demonstrate persistent loss of protein, or inflammation during analysis of the urine.
  • Neurological disorder: Patients with lupus may show paralysis, or seizures, personality change, even psychosis.
  • Blood disorder: Patients with lupus may show low blood counts of various blood components.
  • Immunologic disorder: Some antibodies tests may be positive in patients with lupus. It includes antibody tests such as anti-double strand (ds) DNA, anti-phospholipid antibodies and anti-smith antibodies.
  • Positive antinuclear antibody: It is a very valuable test to rule out lupus. More than 98% of patients with lupus have a positive ANA test result.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus.

Treatment options

Symptoms of systemic lupus erythemtosus may come and go. The aim of treatments is to relieve your symptoms and decrease the inflammation.

  • General management:
  • Avoid sun exposure: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus should better prevent from sun exposure. When going out, they are recommended to use sunscreen with higher SPF (at least 15). Wearing protective clothing is also an importsnt way.
  • Keep a good sleep quality: This may help decrease fatigue in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
  • For patients with severe organ damage such as heart, central nervous system, kindeys and lungs, treatment team may include the rheumatologist and other specialists.

Diseases with similar symptoms

Where to find medical care for systemic lupus erythematosus?

Directions to Hospitals Treating systemic lupus erythematosus

Prevention of systemic lupus erythematosus

The cause of autoimmue disease is not clear, there is no way to prevent systemic lupus erythematosus.

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Outcomes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus have improved in recent years. Prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus depends on:

  • The results of anti-phospholipid antibodies: Positive results may increase the possibility of pregnancy loss in women with systemic lupus erythematosus.
  • Whether the patient is involved of vital organs damage, such as the damages in brain, lungs, heart, and kidney.

Copyleft Sources

http://www.medicinenet.com/systemic_lupus/article.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000435.htm

http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/SLE_09.pdf

http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/809378-overview

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/lupus_systemic_lupus_erythematosus/article_em.htm

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