The first signs and symptoms of lupus are as follows:
- Fatigue
- Unexplained fever
- Skin rash or lesions
- Hair loss
- Swollen and painful joints
- Pulmonary issues
- Gastrointestinal problems
There are four different types of lupus:
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) – most common form of lupus and is more serious than the other 3 forms. SLE can affect many parts of a person’s body, including kidneys, heart, lungs, brain, blood and skin
- Discoid (cutaneous) - Discoid form of lupus only affects the skin and causes rashes. These rashes may be anywhere but are usually found on the face, neck and scalp. This type of lupus does not affect any of the internal body organs
- Drug-induced lupus (DIL) - occurs after a person takes certain types of medication. The symptoms are similar to systemic lupus, but they usually disappear when the medicine is stopped. Symptoms are typically gone within six months, however the Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) test (used to help diagnose lupus) may stay positive for years
- Neonatal lupus - In rare cases, the newborn of a mom with lupus or another autoimmune disease may have neonatal lupus. This condition can cause skin rashes, anemia or liver problems. Symptoms usually go away after a few months and don’t cause permanent damage
People of African, Asian and Native American descent are more likely to develop lupus as compared to Caucasians. Although, it can occur in both men and women, most of people diagnosed with SLE are women.
Pregnancy is possible in most patients with lupus. However, complications are frequent; all patients must be considered high risk. In pregnancy or planned pregnancy, referral for specialty care is always appropriate. Patients with antiphospholipid antibody are at risk for pregnancy loss; patients with anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies are at risk for delivering a child with neonatal lupus.
