What Is Lupus? - Lupus Foundation of America
WEBOct 21, 2020 · Lupus is a chronic (long-term) disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of your body. It’s an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system — the body system that usually fights infections — attacks healthy tissue instead. Lupus most commonly affects your: Skin. Joints.
What is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)? - Lupus Foundation …
WEBAug 23, 2024 · Neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE). This is also called “lupus with central nervous system (CNS) involvement.”. This means that a person’s lupus is causing symptoms that affect their brain, like headaches, trouble thinking, memory loss, seizures, or stroke. Experts are learning more about NPSLE, but they estimate that more than 1 …
Lupus Symptoms | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBJul 25, 2023 · Sensitivity to sunlight or fluorescent light. Chest pain when breathing deeply. Many people with lupus also have problems that affect their skin and hair, like: A butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose. Hair loss. Sores in the mouth or nose. Fingers and toes turning white or blue and feeling numb when a person is cold or stressed (Raynaud ...
Understanding lupus: a guide | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBOct 17, 2018 · Lupus is a chronic (long-term) disease that can cause inflammation (swelling) and pain any part of your body. It’s an autoimmune disease, meaning that your immune system attacks healthy tissue (tissue is what our organs are made of). Lupus most commonly affects the skin, joints, and internal organs — like your kidneys or lungs.
How Lupus Affects The Skin | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBAug 26, 2021 · Subacute cutaneous lupus causes a red scaly rash or red ring-shaped sores. It usually happens on skin that gets sunlight, like the neck and arms. Acute cutaneous lupus causes a butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose that looks like a sunburn (called malar rash). Sometimes it affects other body parts, like the arms and legs.
The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test - Lupus Foundation of America
WEBAug 20, 2021 · If your doctor says your ANA test is “positive,” that means you have antinuclear antibodies in your blood — but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have lupus. In fact, a large portion of patients with a positive ANA do not have lupus. Diagnosing lupus is like putting together a puzzle. There’s no single test that can give doctors a yes ...
Lab Tests for Lupus | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBRoutine blood tests. Usually, your doctor will first request a complete blood count (CBC). Your blood is made up of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets and serum. The complete blood count measures the levels of each. In cases of lupus, these blood tests may reveal low numbers. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of ...
Treating Lupus Skin Problems - Lupus Foundation of America
WEBAug 26, 2021 · Steroids can help with skin inflammation. Depending on the type of skin problem you have, you may need to take steroids as creams, pills, or injections. Taking steroids for a long time can increase your risk for infections and other serious health problems, including heart disease. If you take steroids for …
The four different types of lupus
WEBAug 8, 2022 · Most cases of SLE begin in adulthood, between the ages of 15-44. Lupus that only affects the skin is less common and is called cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). There are three types of CLE – discoid lupus, subacute cutaneous lupus, and acute cutaneous lupus. Neonatal lupus and drug-induced …
Medications used to treat lupus | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBAug 4, 2021 · Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is a type of antimalarial medicine. Antimalarials work by reducing autoantibodies (proteins in the blood that attack healthy cells and tissues). Doctors use antimalarials to treat malaria, but these medicines can also treat lupus by: Reducing pain and inflammation. Preventing lupus flares and helping with lupus ...