Lupus (SLE)

Overview

Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, SLE) is an autoimmune disorder and one of the connective tissue diseases. It causes inflammation of the blood vessels throughout the body; the symptoms are very diverse. Increased sensitivity to UV light, painful joints and skin problems are typical. The disorder is treated with anti-inflammatory medication.

Symptoms

Main symptoms

• General symptoms such as fever, fatigue, weight loss
• Painful joints, sore muscles
• Skin is very sensitive to UV light
• Butterfly rash on the cheeks and nose

Other symptoms

• Skin rashes
• Headaches
• Increasingly bad mood
• Pneumonia
• Inflammation of the heart sac/heart muscle
• Kidney infection
• Nausea, Diarrhoea
• Gastritis/inflammation of the oesophagus/liver
• Conjunctivitis, “dry” eyes
  

Causes and treatment

Causes

• The exact cause is not known
• Autoimmune disorder
• Family history is a factor

Further treatment by your doctor / in hospital

Possible tests

• Careful examination of the whole body
• Blood test (inflammatory markers, disease-specific changes to blood)
• Removal of tissue samples (e.g. kidneys, skin)

Possible therapies

• Anti-inflammatory drugs
  

What can I do myself?

• Avoid long exposure to UV light

When to see a doctor?

• Persistent joint pains
• Rash that appears after exposure to sunlight
• Persistent fever and fatigue
• Involuntary weight loss
• Butterfly rash on the face