What Is Lupus? - Lupus Foundation of America
WEBJul 31, 2020 · Lupus is a chronic (long-term) disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of your body. It’s an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system — the body system that usually fights infections — attacks healthy tissue instead. Lupus most commonly affects your: Skin. Joints.
Help Us Solve The Cruel Mystery | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBOur health educators are available to answer your questions and give you the help you need. Contact a Health Education Specialist. The Lupus Foundation of America is the largest force in the fight to cure lupus. Read hundreds of articles and resources, and find dozens of ways to get involved. Join us.
Lupus Symptoms | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBJul 25, 2023 · Sensitivity to sunlight or fluorescent light. Chest pain when breathing deeply. Many people with lupus also have problems that affect their skin and hair, like: A butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose. Hair loss. Sores in the mouth or nose. Fingers and toes turning white or blue and feeling numb when a person is cold or stressed (Raynaud ...
Lab Tests for Lupus | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBRoutine blood tests. Usually, your doctor will first request a complete blood count (CBC). Your blood is made up of red blood cells (RBCs), white blood cells (WBCs), platelets and serum. The complete blood count measures the levels of each. In cases of lupus, these blood tests may reveal low numbers. Red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of ...
Medications used to treat lupus | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBAug 4, 2021 · Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) is a type of antimalarial medicine. Antimalarials work by reducing autoantibodies (proteins in the blood that attack healthy cells and tissues). Doctors use antimalarials to treat malaria, but these medicines can also treat lupus by: Reducing pain and inflammation. Preventing lupus flares and helping with lupus ...
Understanding lupus: a guide | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBOct 17, 2018 · Lupus is a chronic (long-term) disease that can cause inflammation (swelling) and pain any part of your body. It’s an autoimmune disease, meaning that your immune system attacks healthy tissue (tissue is what our organs are made of). Lupus most commonly affects the skin, joints, and internal organs — like your kidneys or lungs.
How Lupus Affects The Skin | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBAug 26, 2021 · Subacute cutaneous lupus causes a red scaly rash or red ring-shaped sores. It usually happens on skin that gets sunlight, like the neck and arms. Acute cutaneous lupus causes a butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose that looks like a sunburn (called malar rash). Sometimes it affects other body parts, like the arms and legs.
Diagnosing lupus - Lupus Foundation of America
WEBApr 20, 2020 · Diagnosing lupus can be challenging. There’s no single test that can give doctors a “yes” or “no” answer. Sometimes it can take months—or even years—to gather all the right information. Making a lupus diagnosis is kind of like putting together a puzzle. Your doctor will look at several different puzzle pieces: your symptoms ...
What is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?
WEBAug 23, 2024 · Neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE). This is also called “lupus with central nervous system (CNS) involvement.”. This means that a person’s lupus is causing symptoms that affect their brain, like headaches, trouble thinking, memory loss, seizures, or stroke. Experts are learning more about NPSLE, but they estimate that more than 1 …
Medications that can cause drug-induced lupus
WEBhypertension. neuropsychiatric disorders. Some anti-inflammatory agents and antibiotics are on the list, as well as so-called biologics used intravenously to treat rheumatic diseases. Most cases of drug-induced lupus have been associated with these three medications: procainamide (Pronestyl®) hydralazine (Apresoline®) quinidine (Quiniglute ...