Lupus cause, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment. Lupus, short for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease that can involve the organs and joints. Lupus symptoms vary, but may include a characteristic butterfly skin rash, arthritis, hair loss, fatigue, nephritis, and other serious problems.
Lupus is an autoimmune rheumatic disease. Lupus affects the joints, skin, and other organs of the body. Learn 10 things you should know about lupus.
Lupus is a complex disease which can be hard to diagnose. Symptoms of lupus can resemble other types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases.
Lupus nephritis (lupus kidney disease) is a kidney disorder that is a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus nephritis is also known as lupus glomerulonephritis or lupus glomerular disease.
How is lupus nephritis diagnosed? How is lupus nephritis treated?
Information on lupus in our five-part comprehensive guide includes: what lupus is, types of lupus, information on lupus signs and symptoms, how lupus is diagnosed, and how it is treated.
People with lupus produce abnormal antibodies in their blood which target tissues within their own body. Lupus is one of the autoimmune diseases. The chronic inflammation which is associated with this condition can affect the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and nervous system.
Lupus is not easy to diagnose. It may take your doctor weeks or months to reach a definitive diagnosis. How much do you know about lupus?
Lupus is not a simple disease with an easy answer. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect many parts of the body. Lupus may be hard to diagnose. Lupus is often mistaken for other diseases. For this reason, lupus has been called the “great imitator.”
Researchers are looking for lupus treatments that are safer and more targeted, but the uniqueness of the disease poses challenges for drug development.
What people with lupus need to know about osteoporosis. People with lupus are at increased risk for osteoporosis for many reasons.
Oral contraceptives containing estrogen do not increase symptoms in women with lupus whose disease is stable or moderate.
Two of the 100 types of arthritis are rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. There are specific symptoms, distinguishing characteristics, as well as overlapping symptoms associated with rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Do you know the difference?
Medications are an important aspect of treatment for many patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. An array of medications and drug therapy options are now available to treat lupus.
An in-depth report on the causes, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Lupus.
A chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder that may affect many organ systems including the skin, joints and internal organs.
Drug-induced lupus is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder that may affect many organ systems. It is caused from an adverse reaction to a medication. Drugs known to cause this type of reaction in some people include: procainamide, isoniazid, chlorpromazine, penicillamine, sulfasalazine, hydralazine, methyldopa, and quinidine. (Illustrated/Photos)
Living with arthritis can add extra difficulties and challenges to parenting. Here are some positive strategies for effective parenting when you live with arthritis or a related disease.
New research from scientists at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has revealed that a single defect in a common protein causes a severe autoimmune disease akin to lupus.
As a blood test, CRP is not specific. A high result serves as a general indication of acute inflammation. Doctors can utilize the CRP test to assess the effectiveness of a specific arthritis treatment and monitor periods of disease flareup. Does your doctor order this test routinely.
An appearance by Caroline Myss on "Oprah" stirred anger within the lupus community when she claimed lupus had a spiritual cause rather than physical cause.
Inflammation is a natural defense of the body to protect against foreign substances or injury, but it can cause problems in certain diseases.
Anti-SR protein antibody assay test is first diagnostic breakthrough for lupus in over four decades.
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body makes antibodies to its own phospholipids or plasma proteins. The disorder may also occur with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or another rheumatic disorder. Antibodies can be found in as many as 50% of people with lupus. Women with APS may have frequent miscarriages or premature births.
Cryoglobulinemia is the presence of abnormal proteins in the bloodstream which thicken or gel on exposure to cold. These proteins may be present in some autoimmune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Amyloidosis is rare but potentially fatal. Amyloidosis can be a primary condition or can be a secondary condition to an existing inflammatory condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, Reiter's syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, and Sjogren's syndrome.
Lupus nephritis is a kidney disorder that is a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus, characterized by damage to the glomerulus and progressive loss of kidney function.
Lupus anticoagulants are antibodies against phospholipids (a group of substances in cell membranes) which inhibit blood clotting in a test tube, but may be associated with a higher risk of clotting in people who have them in their blood. Lupus anticoagulants are found in people with auto-immune diseases, such as systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE).
Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis is a form of glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney glomeruli). The mesangial cells (part of the glomerular capillaries) increase in size and number, giving the glomeruli a lumpy appearance. It may be seen more commonly in lupus patients who develop GN, and in patients who have IgA mediated kidney disease.
A brief explanation and fast facts about DHEA dehydroepiandrosterone). DHEA has been helpful in reducing fatigue, improving thinking difficulties, and improving quality of life in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is the medical name for a condition of extreme and persistent fatigue. However, chronic fatigue can also be a severe symptom of many chronic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and lupus. For a diagnosis of CFS to be made certain specific criteria must be met. What is the difference between "chronic fatigue" and "chronic fatigue syndrome"?
Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis includes any type of glomerulonephritis in which progressive loss of kidney function occurs over weeks to months. Many conditions are known to cause or increase the risk for development of this syndrome, including vascular (blood vessel) diseases such as vasculitis or polyarteritis, lupus nephritis and Henoch-Schonlein purpura.
Raynaud's phenomenon can occur as a primary condition or secondary condition (for example, along with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, scleroderma). The primary characteristic is cold and discolored fingers and toes. Take the Raynaud's Phenomenon Screening Quiz.
Women with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis do experience more pregnancy complications and longer hospitalizations, according to a study of pregnancy outcomes in women with rheumatic disease.
Mouth sores are not uncommon in arthritis patients. We examine the reasons for mouth sores and treatments for mouth sores.
