What is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)? - Lupus Foundation …
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 …
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.
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 ...
The antinuclear antibody (ANA) test - Lupus Foundation of America
WEBAug 20, 2021 · If your doctor says your ANA test is “positive,” that means you have antinuclear antibodies in your blood — but it doesn’t necessarily mean you have lupus. In fact, a large portion of patients with a positive ANA do not have lupus. Diagnosing lupus is like putting together a puzzle. There’s no single test that can give doctors a yes ...
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.
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 ...
Treating Lupus Skin Problems - Lupus Foundation of America
WEBAug 26, 2021 · Steroids can help with skin inflammation. Depending on the type of skin problem you have, you may need to take steroids as creams, pills, or injections. Taking steroids for a long time can increase your risk for infections and other serious health problems, including heart disease. If you take steroids for …
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 ...
Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBAug 16, 2021 · Some people with lupus make antibodies called antiphospholipid antibodies. Many people with antiphospholipid antibodies will not have any complications. But some people will have blood clots inside the blood vessels or pregnancy complications. APS happens when these complications occur. Blood clot complications can include:
How doctors diagnose lupus | Lupus Foundation of America
WEBJan 26, 2022 · Lab tests. Lab tests help doctors check for changes in your body that could be caused by lupus. When your doctor reviews your test results, they’ll look for these common signs of lupus: Unusual antinuclear antibodies (ANA): the ANA test checks for a type of antibodies in your blood that attack healthy cells and tissues.