Definition Of SLE And Lupus Symptoms

What is Lupus? Lupus or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory auto-immune disorder. In this disease, antibodies, developed by the body's immune system to fight foreign microorganisms, abnormally attack the cells and tissue of the body. Lupus symptoms are unique in that wide variation is found in them. They can be found in any organ or system of the body. They can come and go.

SLE is characterized by flare-ups and remissions.

Early lupus symptoms include fatigue, low-grade fever, and severe joint and muscle pains. Redness, warmth, and swelling may be found early in the morning. Rashes on the skin are also a common symptom.

The most common rash is a butterfly shaped painless and itchless rash across the nose and cheeks. This symptom is seen in over 50% of lupus patients. Skin sores, lip sores, red spots on the arm, mouth, hands, chest, and/or back can be found. Light sensitivity is also observed to play a role in flare-up of rashes on the skin.

Different lupus patients develop different combinations of symptoms and organ involvement.

Pleuritis, which is inflammation of the lining around the lung, may be found in some of these patients. Some other patients may be afflicted by pericarditis, which is inflammation of the lining around the heart. Some others may complain of poor circulation to the toes and fingers with exposure to cold. This last manifestation is known as chilblain lupus.

Some serious manifestations of lupus are to be found in the liver, brain, and kidney. Lupus nephritis is a clinical term that refers to the inflammation of the kidney caused by SLE. In SLE, blood clotting factors and white blood cells become reduced. This increases the risk of bleeding and infection.

Women are approximately eight times more likely than men to develop lupus. Young women are specifically prone to lupus. Some of these women patients may develop amenorrhea as a result of lupus. Amenorrhea is the lack of menstrual periods.

In some patients the central nervous system may be affected by lupus, whereas in some others the peripheral nervous system may be affected by peripheral neuropathy. The peripheral nervous system includes nerves in the arms, legs, face, and torso, as well as some nerves in the skull. Peripheral neuropathy is the term used to describe a peripheral nervous system disorder. Initial symptoms include pain and numbness in a nerve(s).

A majority of the patients with SLE will be afflicted with arthritis after the onset of lupus. During such arthritis, pain, swelling, stiffness, or even deformity of the small joints of the wrists, hands, and feet will be the common symptoms found. SLE arthritis may have symptoms akin to that of rheumatic arthritis. The latter is also an autoimmune disease.

Discoid lupus is a skin manifestation of SLE. In this autoimmune disorder, lupus symptoms are found in a small part of the skin that is affected by a dense population of painless and itch-less circular lesions.