OverviewSystemic lupus erythematosus, abbreviated as SLE, is an autoimmune disorder that affects many parts of the body. An autoimmune disorder is a condition in which the body, for reasons that medical science usually does not understand, creates antibodies against its own tissues.
What is going on in the body?A person with SLE produces antibodies against many of his or her own tissues. This autoimmune reaction can damage many parts of the body. These include:
• brain and nervous system
• digestive system
• eyes
• heart
• joints and muscles
• kidney
• lung
• skin
What are the signs and symptoms of the disease?Because SLE affects so many different parts of the body, the disease has many signs and symptoms. These are best listed by organ system.
It should be emphasized that an individual patients with SLE will exhibit some combination, not all, of these symptoms, and some have involvement of only one organ system. The symptoms come and go in an irregular time pattern. Some persons with lupus can identify "triggers" that usually bring on the symptoms.
Signs and symptoms that affect the whole body:
• fatigue
• fever
• nausea
Signs and symptoms that affect the skin:
• hives
• loss of scalp hair
• red "butterfly rash" on the face, which extends over the cheeks and bridge of the nose in the shape of a butterfly
• red, raised rashes in areas exposed to the sun
• sensitivity to the sun
• ulcers of the mouth, nose, or vagina
Symptoms and signs that affect the muscles, bones, and joints:
• hand deformities
• joint pain, especially in the hands, wrists, and knees
• loss of the blood supply to bone, especially hips and shoulders
• muscle pains and weakness
• serious infection within a joint
Signs and symptoms of kidney involvement:
• decrease in kidney function or kidney failure
• protein in the urine
• white blood cells in the urine
Signs and symptoms affecting the nervous system:
• bleeding in the brain, known as intracerebral hemorrhage
• headaches, including migraines
• loss of coordination
• memory loss, problems with concentration
• numbness, pain, or a feeling of "pins and needles" in the hands and feet
• problems with the major nerves in the head and face
• seizures
• strokes
Signs and symptoms involving the blood:
• anemia, which is a low red blood cell count
• low blood platelet count
• low white blood cell count
• problems with both blood clotting and bleeding
Signs and symptoms involving the heart:
• fluid collection in the sac around the heart, known as pericardial effusion
• heart valve problems
• inflammation and infection in the heart
• inflammation of the lining of the heart
Signs and symptoms involving the lungs:
• cough, including coughing up blood
• fluid in the lung
• inflammation in the lung
• inflammation of the lining of the lungs
Signs and symptoms affecting the digestive system:
• diarrhea
• enlargement of the liver
• intestinal perforation due to inflammation of blood vessels
• rectal bleeding caused by ulcerations
Symptoms and signs affecting the eye:
• blindness
• conjunctivitis, which is inflammation of the outer lining of the eye
• damage to the retina, which may cause visual impairments
What are the causes and risks of the disease?
The exact cause of systemic lupus erythematosus is unknown. It is believed to be an autoimmune disorder. SLE tends to run in families. Certain medications have been known to cause systemic lupus erythematosus. These include procainamide, hydralazine, isoniazid, and chlorpromazine.
What can be done to prevent the disease?
Most cases of systemic lupus erythematosus cannot be prevented. It may be helpful to avoid medications that cause SLE, but not everyone who takes these medications will develop the disease.
How is the disease diagnosed?
A complete medical history and physical examination are important tools for diagnosing SLE. Blood tests also play an important role. A blood test called an ANA looks for antibodies that the person has produced against his or her own tissues.
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