Lupus

Introduction: Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease affecting mostly women and causing various effects throughout different parts of the body. Its severity can range from very mild to extremely serious depending on which body organs are afflicted.

Lupus is difficult to diagnose and often misdiagnosed unless there is a characteristic symptom such as the butterfly-shaped rash over the cheeks. There is no single definitive blood test for lupus and doctors have to make the diagnosis based on a variety of symptoms and diagnostic tests. Lupus is one of a group of conditions with vague symptoms such as fatigue or malaise, and may need to be distinguished from fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, Type 2 diabetes, depression, Lyme disease, multiple sclerosis, or various other conditions. If the main symptoms are joint symptoms, then various other causes of arthritis need to be considered.

Symptoms of Lupus

• Some of the most common symptoms are:
  • Vague symptoms
  • Extreme fatigue
  • Malaise
  • Unexplained fever

See full list of 119 symptoms of Lupus

Medical Textbooks Online about Lupus

Book excerpts: Copyright © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. All rights reserved.

Diagnostic Tests for Lupus

• Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test
• Anti-DNA antibody test
• Anti-Sm antibody test
• Anti-RNP antibody test
• Anti-Ro (SSA) antibody test

See full list of 15 diagnostic tests for Lupus

Wrongly Diagnosed with Lupus?

• Misdiagnosis of Lupus
• Failure to diagnose Lupus
• Underlying causes of Lupus (possibly wrongly diagnosed)
• Failure to diagnose Lupus

Misdiagnosis and Lupus

Lupus is often misdiagnosed as other conditions: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), often simply called "lupus", is a difficult disease to diagnose and can manifest with numerous symptoms. Some of the...more »

Cluster of diseases with difficult diagnosis issues: There is a well-known list of medical conditions that are all somewhat difficult to diagnose, and all can...more »

Read more about Misdiagnosis and Lupus

Causes of Lupus

Read more about causes of Lupus.

More information about causes of Lupus:

• Medications, drugs, or substances causing Lupus (14 listings)
• Lupus as a complication caused by other conditions
• Medical news summaries relating to Causes of Lupus

Treatments for Lupus

• Corticosteroids
  • Corticosteroid creams
  • Prednisone (Deltasone)
  • Hydrocortisone
  • Methylprednisolone (Medrol)

See full list of 39 treatments for Lupus

Videos for Lupus

Patient Surveys for Lupus

• Patient Profile Survey
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• Survey about the symptoms of your Lupus
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Prognosis for Lupus

Prognosis for Lupus: Normal lifespan possible for many patients. Remissions and relapses common. 5-year survival about 97%; 10-year survival about 90%. (NWHIC).

More about prognosis of Lupus

Reseach about Lupus

Visit our research pages for current research about Lupus treatments.

Clinical Trials for Lupus

The US based website ClinicalTrials.gov lists information on both federally and privately supported clinical trials using human volunteers.

Some of the clinical trials listed on ClinicalTrials.gov for Lupus include:

• Safety and Efficacy Study of LJP 394 (Abetimus Sodium) to Treat Lupus Kidney Disease - This study has been completed (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - Abetimus sodium (LJP 394)
• Study of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006)
• Study of LJP 394 in Lupus Patients With History of Renal Disease - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - abetimus sodium (LJP 394)
• Treating Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Patients With CTLA4-IgG4m (RG2077) - This study is no longer recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - CTLA4-IgG4m (RG2077)
• TNF Blockade With Remicade in Active Lupus Nephritis WHO Class V (TRIAL ) - This study is currently recruiting patients (Current: 23 Nov 2006) - infliximab,azathioprine

See full list of 204 Clinical Trials for Lupus

Statistics for Lupus

• Medical statistics for Lupus
• Prevalence and incidence statistics for Lupus
• Death and Mortality statistics for Lupus
• Society statistics for Lupus

Types of Lupus

• Discoid lupus erythematosus
• Drug-induced lupus - caused by a particular medication.
• Neonatal lupus - affecting babies of women with lupus.

Read more about Types of Lupus

Medical Guidebooks and Ebooks for Lupus

• Icon Health Sourcebook for Lupus

See all guides and ebooks for Lupus

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User Interactive Forums

Read about other experiences, ask a question about Lupus, or answer someone else's question, on our message boards:

• I can not get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for this?
• See all the forums.

Article Excerpts about Lupus

NINDS Neurological Sequelae Of Lupus Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)

Lupus (also called systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE) is a disorder of the immune system which normally functions to protect the body against invading infections and cancers. In lupus, the immune system is over-active and produces increased amounts of abnormal antibodies that attack the patient's own tissues. Lupus can affect many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system, and blood vessels. The signs and symptoms of lupus differ from person to person, and the disease can range from mild to life-threatening. (Source: excerpt from NINDS Neurological Sequelae Of Lupus Information Page: NINDS)

Handout on Health Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: NIAMS (Excerpt)

Lupus is a disorder of the immune system known as an autoimmune disease. In autoimmune diseases, the body harms its own healthy cells and tissues. This leads to inflammation and damage to various body tissues. Lupus can affect many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain. (Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: NIAMS)

Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC (Excerpt)

An inflammation of the connective tissues, SLE can afflict every organ system. It is up to nine times more common in women than men and strikes black women three times as often as white women. The condition is aggravated by sunlight. (Source: excerpt from Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC)

Lupus Fact Sheet: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body literally attacks itself, harming its own healthy cells and tissues. It can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain, causing inflammation and damage to tissues. (Source: excerpt from Lupus Fact Sheet: NWHIC)

Wiki article about Lupus

See full article about Lupus

Definitions of Lupus:

RAEB: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). an autoimmune connective tissue disease with variable features. - (Source - Diseases Database)

Any of several forms of ulcerative skin disease - (Source - WordNet 2.1)

Ophanet, a consortium of European partners, currently defines a condition rare when it affects 1 person per 2,000. They list Lupus as a "rare disease".
Source - Orphanet