Health Conditions

What are the symptoms?

Lupus is a disease that tends to cycle from flares - worsening symptoms that signal increased disease activity - to remission - periods during which symptoms are minimal or totally absent. Flares can be associated with the development of new symptoms or the onset of another form of lupus. With treatment, the disease can go into remission.

Although it is not possible to predict how long a flare will last, warning signs include:

• Increased fatigue
• High fever
• Increased pain in the joints and muscle
• Development or worsening of a rash
• Upset stomach
• Headache or dizziness

The symptoms of lupus often vary depending on the individual and the form of lupus present. They include rashes, Raynaud's phenomenon, flu-like symptoms, swollen or painful joints, pulmonary pain or inflammation, cardiac problems, gastrointestinal symptoms, and psychiatric symptoms.

• Rashes: Individuals with cutaneous lupus typically have a coin-shaped rash. A "butterfly rash," the most common manifestation of SLE, is generally observed after exposure to the sun. A butterfly rash is a distinctive, butterfly-patterned rash on the face. The wings appear beneath both eyes, and the body of the butterfly covers the bridge of the nose. Because individuals with lupus are often sensitive to sunlight, proper precautions should be taken to prevent sunburn. To learn more about specific measures for preventing sunburn, see the "How is it Treated" section, and then click on the "Helping Yourself" link.

• Raynaud's phenomenon: Raynaud's phenomenon is another symptom that individuals with SLE may experience. Decreased blood flow to the fingers results in a change in finger color (for example, redness, bluish or purplish discoloration, loss of color), mainly on exposure to cold or with emotional stress.

• Flu-like symptoms: Individuals with SLE commonly experience weight loss, loss of appetite, abdominal pain, extreme fatigue, and fever.

• Swollen or painful joints: Swollen joints and sharp pain in the joints are frequently reported by individuals who have recently begun experiencing lupus-related symptoms.

• Pulmonary pain and inflammation: Individuals with lupus may experience chest pain on breathing, which may be associated with underlying lung involvement. Some people experience inflammation of the lungs, or lupus pneumonitis, which is often characterized by fever, productive cough, and painful and rapid breathing.

• Cardiac problems: Cardiac manifestations of lupus are relatively uncommon. When present, they include infection of the heart muscle, heart murmur, and irregular heart rhythms. Symptoms include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, and leg swelling.

• Gastrointestinal symptoms: Symptoms associated with gastrointestinal manifestations, which are relatively uncommon, include nausea, abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, and bloody stools. Very infrequently, an enlarged liver or spleen and pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) may be present in individuals with SLE.

• Psychiatric symptoms: Psychiatric symptoms - such as psychosis, depression, seizures, headache, dizziness, memory disturbances, and strokes - are common manifestations of SLE and affect individuals differently.

The following table shows the occurrence of typical symptoms among individuals with lupus.

Lupus: Symptoms and Occurrence among Affected Individuals

Source: Lupus Foundation of America. Available at: http://www.lupus.org.