Systemic lupus erythematosus

Alternative names:

disseminated lupus erythematosus; lupus; lupus erythematosus; SLE

Symptoms:

• fever
• fatigue
• general discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise)
• weight loss
• skin rash
  • malar "butterfly" rash
  • sunlight aggravates skin rash

• sensitivity to sunlight
• joint pain and swelling
• arthritis
• swollen glands
• muscle aches
• nausea and vomiting
• pleuritic chest pain
• seizures
• psychosis

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• blood in the urine
• coughing up blood
• nosebleed - symptom
• swallowing difficulty
• skin color is patchy
• red spots on skin
• fingers that change color upon pressure
• numbness and tingling
• mouth sores
• hair loss
• abdominal pain
• visual disturbance

Signs and tests:

The diagnosis of SLE is based upon the manifestations of at least 4 out of 11 typical characteristics of the disease.

Tests to determine the presence of these disease manifestations may vary but will include some of the following:

• antinuclear antibody (ANA) panel
• characteristic skin rash or lesions
• chest X-ray showing pleuritis or pericarditis
• listening to the chest with a stethoscope to reveal heart friction rub or pleural friction rub
• urinalysis to show blood, casts, or protein in the urine
• CBC showing a decrease in some cell types
• kidney biopsy
• neurological examination

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• WBC count
• serum globulin electrophoresis
• rheumatoid factor
• protein, urine
• protein electrophoresis - serum
• mononucleosis spot test
• ESR
• cryoglobulins
• Coombs' test, direct
• complement component 3 (3C)
• complement
• antithyroid microsomal antibody
• antithyroglobulin antibody
• antimitochondrial antibody
• anti-smooth muscle antibody