SLE can affect the whole body, but not always, and not in every individual. “No two patients are the same,” says Stuart D. Kaplan, MD, a rheumatologist who practices in Hewlett, New York. Some people may have mild lupus, while others may have a more severe form of the disease.
Common SLE Symptoms
Common SLE symptoms include a rash, arthritis, fever, and fatigue, says Roberto Caricchio, MD, the chair of rheumatology and the chief of the division at the UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts.
Headaches and sun sensitivity are other common symptoms. People with lupus may also have anemia (low red blood cell count) and a condition called edema (swelling of the hands, arms, feet, legs, and around the eyes).
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More serious complications can include:
- Kidney inflammation, or lupus nephritis, which can lead to kidney failure
- Heart disease, including pericarditis and myocarditis
- Coronary artery disease
- Stroke
- Confusion, seizures, and psychosis
- Depression
- Problems with short-term memory
- A higher risk of miscarriage and preterm labor in pregnant women
How Doctors Test for It
Rheumatologists use a combination approach, the symptoms you are experiencing plus the use various laboratory tests and criteria to diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus and prescribe a personalized medication regimen based on the patient’s symptoms, says Dr. Caricchio.
SLE Treatment
Medications include hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a first-line treatment — which may modulate the immune system — with additional medications like corticosteroids, immunotherapies, or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) as needed to manage inflammation and support active flares. While HCL use should continue indefinitely as long as it’s tolerated, corticosteroids should only be used for symptom control and be tapered and withdrawn as soon as possible.
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With proper management and treatment, most patients with lupus can live healthy, fulfilling lives, or what healthcare providers refer to as “remission on drug.”
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“What I tell patients is that my job is to help them get to the place where they can participate in the activities they like,” says Stacy Ardoin, MD, a rheumatologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus.
In addition to recommending that patients regularly visit their rheumatologist to manage the disease, she encourages them to get enough sleep and exercise regularly — at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise per week — to boost heart health as well as mental health.
