Lupus - Signs & Symptoms
Johns Hopkins Rheumatology・4 minutes read
Lupus can present with diverse symptoms affecting different parts of the body, with cognitive dysfunction being common in about 80% of patients, not always linked to active brain inflammation. Flares in lupus can require hospitalization and aggressive treatment, impacting various organs and systems but chronic pain in specific areas is not typically caused by lupus.
Insights
- Lupus symptoms can affect various parts of the body, including oral ulcers, hair loss, rashes, joint swelling, and more, showcasing the diverse and complex nature of the disease.
- Cognitive dysfunction is prevalent in lupus patients, impacting 80% of individuals at diagnosis, highlighting the broad range of bodily systems affected by the condition beyond just physical symptoms.
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Recent questions
What are common symptoms of lupus?
Lupus symptoms can vary among patients but may include oral ulcers, hair loss, sun rashes, swollen joints, morning stiffness, chest pains, fevers, swollen glands, low white blood cell counts, and protein in the urine.
How does lupus affect cognitive function?
Cognitive dysfunction is prevalent in lupus, affecting around 80% of patients, even at diagnosis. It can impact the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, lungs, heart, gastrointestinal system, joints, skin, eyes, and blood vessels.
How often do flares occur in lupus?
Flares in lupus typically happen about once a year on average. Severe flares, such as brain inflammation, kidney issues, or lung bleeding, may require hospitalization and aggressive treatment.
Do lupus patients commonly develop fibromyalgia?
Approximately 30% of lupus patients develop fibromyalgia, leading to chronic pain and fatigue that significantly impacts their quality of life. Chronic fatigue alone may not indicate lupus activity but could suggest fibromyalgia.
Does lupus cause chronic pain in specific areas?
Lupus does not typically cause chronic pain in specific areas like the hip girdle, shoulder girdle, neck, or low back. Chronic pain in these regions may indicate other conditions like fibromyalgia, which requires a different treatment approach than lupus.
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Summary
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Lupus Symptoms, Cognitive Dysfunction, and Flares Explained
- Lupus symptoms can manifest in various parts of the body, with different patients experiencing different symptoms such as oral ulcers, hair loss, rashes in the sun, swollen joints, morning stiffness, inspiratory chest pains, fevers, swollen glands, low white blood cell counts, and protein in the urine.
- Cognitive dysfunction is common in lupus, affecting about 80% of patients even at the time of diagnosis, but not necessarily indicating active brain inflammation. Lupus can also impact the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerves, lungs, heart, gastrointestinal system, joints, skin, eyes, and blood vessels.
- Flares in lupus occur about once a year on average, with some requiring changes in management, especially severe flares like inflammation of the brain, kidneys, or bleeding in the lungs necessitating hospitalization and aggressive treatment.
- Around 30% of lupus patients develop fibromyalgia, leading to chronic pain and fatigue that significantly affects their quality of life. Chronic fatigue alone is not necessarily a sign of lupus activity but may indicate fibromyalgia, requiring a different approach than immunosuppression. Lupus does not cause chronic pain in specific areas like the hip girdle, shoulder girdle, neck, or low back.
