Systemic lupus erythematosus Symptoms
Systemic lupus erythematosus Alternative Names Disseminated lupus erythematosus; SLE; Lupus; Lupus erythematosus Symptoms Symptoms vary from person to person, and may come and go. The condition may affect one organ or body system at first. Others may become involved later. Almost all people with SLE have joint pain and most develop arthritis. Frequently affected joints are the fingers, hands, wrists, and knees. Inflammation of various parts of the heart may occur as pericarditis, endocarditis, or myocarditis. Chest pain and arrhythmias may result from these conditions. General symptoms include: * Fever * Fatigue * General discomfort, uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) * Skin rash - a "butterfly" rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose affects about half of those with SLE. The rash gets worse when in sunlight. The rash may also be widespread. * Sensitivity to sunlight * Joint pain and swelling * Arthritis * Swollen glands * Muscle aches * Nausea and vomiting * Pleurisy (causes chest pain) * Pleural effusions * Seizures * Psychosis Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: * Blood in the urine * Coughing up blood * Nosebleed * Swallowing difficulty * Skin color is patchy * Red spots on skin * Fingers that change color upon pressure or in the cold * Numbness and tingling * Mouth sores * Hair loss * Abdominal pain * Visual disturbance * Blood disorders, including blood clots Exams and Tests The diagnosis of SLE is based upon the presence of at least four out of eleven typical characteristics of the disease. The doctor will listen to your chest with a stethoscope. A sound called a heart friction rub or pleural friction rub may be heard. A neurological exam will also be performed. Tests used to diagnose SLE may include: * Antinuclear antibody (ANA) panel including anti-DNA and anti-Smith antibodies * Chest x-ray showing pleuritis or pericarditis * Urinalysis to show blood, casts, or protein in the urine * CBC * Kidney biopsy This disease may also alter the results of the following -*test*-('")s: * WBC count * Serum globulin electrophoresis * Rheumatoid factor * Urine protein * Serum protein electrophoresis * Mononucleosis spot -*test*-('") * ESR * Cryoglobulins * Coombs' -*test*-('") - direct * Complement component 3 (C3) * Complement * Anti-thyroid microsomal antibody * Anti-thyroglobulin antibody * Anti-mitochondrial antibody * Anti-smooth muscle antibody Harris ED, Budd RC, Genovese MC, Firestein GS, Sargent JS, Sledge CB. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2005. Noble J. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001. Review Date: 8/22/2006 Reviewed By: Lisa Christopher-Stine, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University,Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2006A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. adam.com
Systemic lupus erythematosus Alternative Names Disseminated lupus erythematosus; SLE; Lupus; Lupus erythematosus Symptoms Symptoms vary from person to person, and may come and go. The condition may affect one organ or body system at first. Others may become involved later. Almost all people with SLE have joint pain and most develop arthritis. Frequently affected joints are the fingers, hands, wrists, and knees. Inflammation of various parts of the heart may occur as pericarditis, endocarditis, or myocarditis. Chest pain and arrhythmias may result from these conditions. General symptoms include: * Fever * Fatigue * General discomfort, uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) * Skin rash - a "butterfly" rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose affects about half of those with SLE. The rash gets worse when in sunlight. The rash may also be widespread. * Sensitivity to sunlight * Joint pain and swelling * Arthritis * Swollen glands * Muscle aches * Nausea and vomiting * Pleurisy (causes chest pain) * Pleural effusions * Seizures * Psychosis Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease: * Blood in the urine * Coughing up blood * Nosebleed * Swallowing difficulty * Skin color is patchy * Red spots on skin * Fingers that change color upon pressure or in the cold * Numbness and tingling * Mouth sores * Hair loss * Abdominal pain * Visual disturbance * Blood disorders, including blood clots Exams and Tests The diagnosis of SLE is based upon the presence of at least four out of eleven typical characteristics of the disease. The doctor will listen to your chest with a stethoscope. A sound called a heart friction rub or pleural friction rub may be heard. A neurological exam will also be performed. Tests used to diagnose SLE may include: * Antinuclear antibody (ANA) panel including anti-DNA and anti-Smith antibodies * Chest x-ray showing pleuritis or pericarditis * Urinalysis to show blood, casts, or protein in the urine * CBC * Kidney biopsy This disease may also alter the results of the following -*test*-('")s: * WBC count * Serum globulin electrophoresis * Rheumatoid factor * Urine protein * Serum protein electrophoresis * Mononucleosis spot -*test*-('") * ESR * Cryoglobulins * Coombs' -*test*-('") - direct * Complement component 3 (C3) * Complement * Anti-thyroid microsomal antibody * Anti-thyroglobulin antibody * Anti-mitochondrial antibody * Anti-smooth muscle antibody Harris ED, Budd RC, Genovese MC, Firestein GS, Sargent JS, Sledge CB. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 7th ed. St. Louis, Mo: WB Saunders; 2005. Noble J. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo: Mosby; 2001. Review Date: 8/22/2006 Reviewed By: Lisa Christopher-Stine, M.D., M.P.H., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University,Baltimore, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org). URAC's accreditation program is the first of its kind, requiring compliance with 53 standards of quality and accountability, verified by independent audit. A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services. Learn more about A.D.A.M.'s editorial process. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics (www.hiethics.com) and subscribes to the principles of the Health on the Net Foundation (www.hon.ch). The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed physician should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Call 911 for all medical emergencies. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. Copyright 2006A.D.A.M., Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. adam.com