302 lines
No EOL
39 KiB
HTML
302 lines
No EOL
39 KiB
HTML
<!DOCTYPE html>
|
||
<html lang="en" id="article" class="nojs us" data-root="//medlineplus.gov" itemid="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000435.htm" itemtype="http://schema.org/MedicalWebPage" itemscope="">
|
||
<head>
|
||
<meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge,chrome=1"/>
|
||
<meta http-equiv="window-target" content="_top"/>
|
||
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"/>
|
||
<meta charset="utf-8"/>
|
||
<meta property="fb:app_id" content="1042245625821448"/>
|
||
<meta name="expires" content="Wed, 05 02 2025"/>
|
||
<meta name="ac-dictionary" content="medlineplus-ac-dictionary"/>
|
||
<link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://medlineplus.gov/images/favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon"/>
|
||
<link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="//medlineplus.gov/images/touch-icon.png"/>
|
||
<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"/>
|
||
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/common_new.css?04272023"/>
|
||
<!--[if IE 8]> <link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/ie8/common.css"><![endif]-->
|
||
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/css/uswds_styles.css"/>
|
||
<link rel="stylesheet" href="https://medlineplus.gov/css/ency/ency2.css?07162024"/>
|
||
<script type="text/javascript">document.querySelector("html").className = document.querySelector("html").className.replace(/nojs[\s]*/g, '');</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds-init.min.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-MMVM77');</script>
|
||
<link rel="canonical" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000435.htm" itemprop="url"/>
|
||
<link rel="alternative" hreflang="es" href="https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/000435.htm"/>
|
||
<link rel="alternative" hreflang="en" href="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000435.htm"/><meta property="og:title" content="Systemic lupus erythematosus: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia"/><meta property="og:url" content="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000435.htm"/><meta property="twitter:title" content="Systemic lupus erythematosus: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia"/><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/><meta name="description" content="Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other"/><meta itemprop="description" name="description" content="Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other"/><meta property="og:description" content="Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other"/><meta property="twitter:description" content="Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_1.jpg"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_2.jpg"/><meta property="og:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_3.jpg"/><meta property="twitter:image" content="https://medlineplus.gov/images/share_ency_1.jpg"/>
|
||
<title>Systemic lupus erythematosus: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia</title>
|
||
</head>
|
||
<body><link href="http://schema.org/Patient" itemprop="audience"/>
|
||
<!-- Google Tag Manager -->
|
||
<noscript><iframe title="googletagmanager" src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-MMVM77" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">
|
||
</iframe>
|
||
</noscript>
|
||
<!-- End Google Tag Manager -->
|
||
<a name="top" id="top">
|
||
</a>
|
||
<a class="hide-offscreen" href="#start">Skip navigation</a>
|
||
<section class="usa-banner" aria-label="Official website of the United States government">
|
||
<div class="usa-accordion">
|
||
<header class="usa-banner__header">
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__inner">
|
||
<div class="grid-col-auto">
|
||
<img aria-hidden="true" class="usa-banner__header-flag" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/us_flag_small.png" alt=""/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="grid-col-fill tablet:grid-col-auto" aria-hidden="true">
|
||
<p class="usa-banner__header-text">
|
||
An official website of the United States government
|
||
</p>
|
||
<p class="usa-banner__header-action">Here’s how you know</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<button type="button" class="usa-accordion__button usa-banner__button" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="gov-banner-default-default">
|
||
<span class="usa-banner__button-text">Here’s how you know</span>
|
||
</button>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</header>
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__content usa-accordion__content" id="gov-banner-default-default">
|
||
<div class="grid-row grid-gap-lg">
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
|
||
<img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-dot-gov.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"/>
|
||
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
|
||
<p>
|
||
<strong>Official websites use .gov</strong><br/>A
|
||
<strong>.gov</strong> website belongs to an official government
|
||
organization in the United States.
|
||
</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="usa-banner__guidance tablet:grid-col-6">
|
||
<img class="usa-banner__icon usa-media-block__img" src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/img/icon-https.svg" role="img" alt="" aria-hidden="true"/>
|
||
<div class="usa-media-block__body">
|
||
<p>
|
||
<strong>Secure .gov websites use HTTPS</strong><br/>A
|
||
<strong>lock</strong> (
|
||
<span class="icon-lock"><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="52" height="64" viewBox="0 0 52 64" class="usa-banner__lock-image" role="img" aria-labelledby="banner-lock-description-default" focusable="false">
|
||
<title id="banner-lock-title-default">Lock</title>
|
||
<desc id="banner-lock-description-default">Locked padlock icon</desc>
|
||
<path fill="#000000" fill-rule="evenodd" d="M26 0c10.493 0 19 8.507 19 19v9h3a4 4 0 0 1 4 4v28a4 4 0 0 1-4 4H4a4 4 0 0 1-4-4V32a4 4 0 0 1 4-4h3v-9C7 8.507 15.507 0 26 0zm0 8c-5.979 0-10.843 4.77-10.996 10.712L15 19v9h22v-9c0-6.075-4.925-11-11-11z">
|
||
</path>
|
||
</svg> </span>) or <strong>https://</strong> means you’ve safely connected to
|
||
the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official,
|
||
secure websites.
|
||
</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</section>
|
||
<div id="mplus-wrap">
|
||
<header>
|
||
<div id="mplus-header">
|
||
<!-- Orgs
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div id="mplus-orgs">
|
||
<a title="National Institutes of Health" target="_blank" class="nih-org" href="//www.nih.gov/">
|
||
<img alt="National Institutes of Health" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/nihlogo.png" class="nihlogo"/>
|
||
</a><a target="_blank" href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/"> National Library of Medicine </a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- Logo
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div id="mplus-logo" class="years-25">
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov">
|
||
<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/m_logo_25.png" title="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You" alt="MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You"/>
|
||
</a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- Nav Menu
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div id="mplus-nav">
|
||
<div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">The navigation menu has been collapsed.</div>
|
||
<!-- Menu Button-->
|
||
<button type="submit" aria-controls="mplus-menu-list" role="button" title="Menu" class="navmenu-btn" id="sm-menu-btn" aria-pressed="false" tabindex="0">Menu<span class="icon icon-nav-menu">
|
||
</span></button><ul class="nav-list" id="mplus-menu-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs & Supplements</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li>
|
||
</ul><button type="submit" aria-controls="mplus-search" role="button" title="Search" class="navmenu-btn" id="sm-search-btn" aria-pressed="false" tabindex="0"><span class="hide-offscreen">Show </span>Search<span class="icon icon-nav-search">
|
||
</span></button>
|
||
<div class="top-1">
|
||
<!-- Search
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<form target="_self" title="Search MedlinePlus" action="//vsearch.nlm.nih.gov/vivisimo/cgi-bin/query-meta" method="get" id="mplus-search">
|
||
<input type="hidden" value="medlineplus" name="v:project"/>
|
||
<input type="hidden" value="medlineplus-bundle" name="v:sources"/>
|
||
<div class="form-box text-combo">
|
||
<div class="form-area"><label for="searchtext_primary" class="hide-offscreen">Search MedlinePlus</label>
|
||
<span role="status" aria-live="polite" class="ui-helper-hidden-accessible">
|
||
</span><input type="text" aria-haspopup="true" aria-autocomplete="list" role="textbox" autocomplete="off" name="query" size="40" maxlength="400" title="Site Search input" alt="Site Search input" placeholder="Search MedlinePlus" class="form-text ui-autocomplete-input" id="searchtext_primary"/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="button-area">
|
||
<button type="submit" alt="Search MedlinePlus" title="Search MedlinePlus" class="form-btn">GO</button>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</form>
|
||
<!-- Secondary Nav
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div class="secondarynav">
|
||
<ul class="nav-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/"><span>About MedlinePlus</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/"><span>What's New</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html"><span>Site Map</span></a></li>
|
||
<li><a target="_blank" href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&category=medlineplus&from=//medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000435.htm"><span>Customer Support</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<!-- Nav Bar
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div id="mplus-nav-bar">
|
||
<ul class="nav-list">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/healthtopics.html">Health Topics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/druginformation.html">Drugs & Supplements</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/genetics/">Genetics</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lab-tests/">Medical Tests</a></li><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html">Medical Encyclopedia</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<a title="Español" id="mplus-lang-toggle" href="../../spanish/ency/article/000435.htm">Español</a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</header>
|
||
<!-- Content
|
||
================================================== -->
|
||
<div id="mplus-content">
|
||
<!-- Breadrcumbs -->
|
||
<div id="breadcrumbs"><div itemtype="http://schema.org/BreadcrumbList" itemscope="" itemprop="breadcrumb"><span class="hide-offscreen">You Are Here:</span>
|
||
<div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem">
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Home</span></a>
|
||
→
|
||
<meta itemprop="position" content="1"/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
<div itemscope itemprop="itemListElement" itemtype="http://schema.org/ListItem">
|
||
<a href="https://medlineplus.gov/encyclopedia.html" itemprop="item"><span itemprop="name">Medical Encyclopedia</span></a>
|
||
→
|
||
<meta itemprop="position" content="2"/>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div><div><span>Systemic lupus erythematosus</span></div></div>
|
||
<span class="page-url print-only">URL of this page: //medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000435.htm
|
||
</span>
|
||
<!-- Article -->
|
||
<article><div id="d-article"><div class="page-info"><div class="page-title"><a name="start" id="start">
|
||
</a><h1 class="with-also" itemprop="name">Systemic lupus erythematosus</h1>
|
||
</div><div class="page-actions">
|
||
</div>
|
||
<noscript>
|
||
<span class="js-disabled-message">To use the sharing features on this page, please enable JavaScript.</span>
|
||
</noscript></div><div class="main"><div id="ency_summary"><p>Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an <a test="test" href="./000816.htm">autoimmune disease</a>. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs.</p></div><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Causes</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-1" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-1"><p>The cause of SLE is not clearly known. It may be linked to the following factors:</p><ul><li>Genetic</li><li>Environmental</li><li>Hormonal</li><li>Certain medicines </li></ul><p>SLE is more common in women than men by nearly 10 to 1. It may occur at any age. However, it appears most often in young women between the ages of 15 and 44. In the United States, the disease is more common in African Americans, Asian Americans, African Caribbeans, and Hispanic Americans than non-Hispanic white people.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Symptoms</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-2" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-2"><p>Symptoms vary from person to person, and may come and go. Everyone with SLE has <a test="test" href="./003261.htm">joint pain</a> and swelling at some time. Some develop <a test="test" href="./001243.htm">arthritis</a>. SLE often affects the joints of the fingers, hands, wrists, and knees.</p><p>Other common symptoms include:</p><ul><li>Chest pain when taking a deep breath.</li><li><a test="test" href="./003088.htm">Fatigue</a>.</li><li><a test="test" href="./003090.htm">Fever</a> with no other cause.</li><li>General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling (malaise).</li><li><a test="test" href="./003246.htm">Hair loss</a>.</li><li><a test="test" href="./003107.htm">Weight loss</a>.</li><li><a test="test" href="./003059.htm">Mouth sores</a>.</li><li>Sensitivity to sunlight.</li><li><a test="test" href="./003220.htm">Skin rash</a> -- A "butterfly" rash develops in about half the people with SLE. The rash is mostly seen over the cheeks and bridge of the nose. It can be widespread. It gets worse in sunlight.</li><li><a test="test" href="./003097.htm">Swollen lymph nodes</a>. </li></ul><p>Other symptoms and signs depend on which part of the body is affected:</p><ul><li>Brain and nervous system -- <a test="test" href="./003024.htm">Headaches</a>, weakness, numbness, tingling, seizures, vision problems, memory and personality changes</li><li>Digestive tract -- <a test="test" href="./003120.htm">Abdominal pain</a>, nausea, and vomiting</li><li>Heart -- Valve problems, <a test="test" href="./001105.htm">inflammation of heart muscle</a>, or the sac around the heart (pericardium)</li><li>Lung -- Buildup of fluid in the pleural space, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood</li><li>Skin -- Sores in the mouth</li><li>Kidney -- Swelling in the legs</li><li>Circulation -- Clots in veins or arteries, inflammation of blood vessels, constriction of arteries in response to cold (<a test="test" href="./000412.htm">Raynaud phenomenon</a>)</li><li>Blood abnormalities including <a test="test" href="./000560.htm">anemia</a>, low white blood cell or platelet count</li></ul><p>Some people have only skin symptoms. This is called discoid lupus.</p><img title="Systemic lupus erythematosus" alt="Systemic lupus erythematosus" src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/fullsize/17134.jpg" class="img-e" itemprop="image"/></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Exams and Tests</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-3" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-3"><p>The American and European Rheumatology societies have published classification criteria to assist the diagnosis of SLE. These include specific symptoms, physical finding and laboratory tests. Nearly all people with SLE have a positive test for an antinuclear antibody (ANA). However, having a positive ANA alone does not mean you have SLE.</p><p>The health care provider will do a complete physical exam. You may have a rash, arthritis, or swelling in the ankles. There may be an abnormal sound called a pericardial friction rub or pleural friction rub. Your provider will also do a nervous system exam.</p><p>Tests used to diagnose SLE may include:</p><ul><li>Antinuclear antibody (ANA)</li><li><a test="test" href="./003642.htm">Complete blood count (CBC)</a> with differential
|
||
</li><li><a test="test" href="./003804.htm">Chest x-ray</a></li><li>Serum creatinine</li><li><a test="test" href="./003579.htm">Urinalysis</a></li></ul><p>You may also have other tests to learn more about your condition. Some of these are:</p><ul><li>Antinuclear antibody (<a test="test" href="./003535.htm">ANA</a>) panel</li><li><a test="test" href="./003539.htm">Complement components</a> (C3 and C4)</li><li>Antibodies to double-stranded DNA</li><li><a test="test" href="./003344.htm">Coombs test -- direct</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003555.htm">Cryoglobulins</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./003638.htm">Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)</a> and <a test="test" href="./003356.htm">C-reactive protein (CRP)</a></li><li>Kidney function blood tests</li><li>Liver function blood tests</li><li><a test="test" href="./003548.htm">Rheumatoid factor</a></li><li>Antiphospholipid antibodies and lupus anticoagulant test</li><li><a test="test" href="./003907.htm">Kidney biopsy</a></li><li>Imaging tests of the heart, brain, lungs, joints, muscles or intestines </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Treatment</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-4" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-4"><p>There is no cure for SLE. The goal of treatment is to control symptoms. Severe symptoms that involve the heart, lungs, kidneys, and other organs often need treatment by specialists. Each person with SLE needs evaluation regarding:</p><ul><li>How active the disease is</li><li>What part of the body is affected</li><li>What form of treatment is needed </li></ul><p>Mild forms of SLE may be treated with:</p><ul><li>Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) for joint symptoms and pleurisy. Talk to your provider before taking these medicines.</li><li>Low doses of corticosteroids, such as prednisone, for skin and arthritis symptoms.</li><li>Corticosteroid creams for skin rashes.</li><li>Hydroxychloroquine, a medicine also used to treat malaria.</li><li>Methotrexate may be used to reduce the dose of corticosteroids.</li><li>Belimumab and anifrolumab are biologic medicines that may be helpful in some people.</li></ul><p>Treatments for more severe SLE may include:</p><ul><li>High-dose corticosteroids.</li><li>Immunosuppressive medicines (these medicines suppress the immune system). These medicines are used if you have severe SLE that is affecting your nervous system, kidney, or other organs. They may also be used if you do not get better with corticosteroids, or if your symptoms get worse when you stop taking corticosteroids.</li><li>Medicines most commonly used include mycophenolate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide, and valcosporin. Because of its toxicity, cyclophosphamide is limited to a short course of 3 to 6 months. Rituximab (Rituxan) is used in some cases as well.</li><li>Blood thinners, such as warfarin (Coumadin), for clotting disorders such as antiphospholipid syndrome. </li></ul><p>If you have SLE, it is also important to:</p><ul><li>Wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen when in the sun.</li><li>Get preventive heart care.</li><li>Stay up-to-date with immunizations.</li><li>Have tests to screen for thinning of the bones (<a test="test" href="./000360.htm">osteoporosis</a>).</li><li>Avoid tobacco and drink minimal amounts of alcohol. </li></ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Support Groups</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-5" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-5"><p><a test="test" href="./002160.htm">Counseling and support groups</a> may help with the emotional issues involved with the disease. </p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Outlook (Prognosis)</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-6" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-6"><p>The outcome for people with SLE has improved in recent years. Many people with SLE have mild symptoms. How well you do depends on how severe the disease is. Most people with SLE will require medicines for a long time. Nearly all will require hydroxychloroquine indefinitely. However, in the United States, SLE is one of the top 20 leading causes of death in females between the ages of 5 and 64. Many new medicines are being studied to improve the outcome of women with SLE.</p><p>The disease tends to be more active:</p><ul><li>During the first years after diagnosis</li><li>In people younger than 40 years</li></ul><p>Many women with SLE can get pregnant and deliver a healthy baby. A good outcome is more likely for women who receive proper treatment and do not have serious heart or kidney problems. However, the presence of certain SLE antibodies or antiphospholipid antibodies raises the risk of miscarriage.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Possible Complications</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-7" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-7"><p>
|
||
LUPUS NEPHRITIS
|
||
</p><p>Some people with SLE have abnormal immune deposits in the kidney cells. This leads to a condition called <a test="test" href="./000481.htm">lupus nephritis</a>. People with this problem may develop <a test="test" href="./000501.htm">kidney failure</a>. They may need <a test="test" href="./007434.htm">dialysis</a> or a <a test="test" href="./003005.htm">kidney transplant</a>.<br/></p><p>
|
||
A kidney biopsy is done to detect the extent of damage to the kidney and to help guide treatment. If active nephritis is present, treatment with immunosuppressive medicines including high doses of corticosteroids along with either cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate are needed.</p><p>OTHER PARTS OF THE BODY</p><p>SLE can cause damage in many different parts of the body, including:</p><ul><li><a test="test" href="./001124.htm">Blood clots</a> in arteries or veins of the legs, lungs, brain, or intestines</li><li>Destruction of red blood cells (hemolysis) or <a test="test" href="./000565.htm">anemia of long-term (chronic) disease</a></li><li>Fluid around the heart (<a test="test" href="./000182.htm">pericarditis</a>), or inflammation of the heart (<a test="test" href="./000149.htm">myocarditis</a> or <a test="test" href="./001098.htm">endocarditis</a>)</li><li>Fluid around the lungs (pleuritis) and damage to lung tissue</li><li>Pregnancy problems, including <a test="test" href="./001488.htm">miscarriage</a></li><li><a test="test" href="./000726.htm">Stroke</a></li><li>Bowel damage with abdominal pain and obstruction</li><li>Inflammation in the intestines</li><li>Severely low blood platelet count (platelets are needed to stop any bleeding)</li><li>Inflammation of the blood vessels </li></ul><p>SLE AND PREGNANCY</p><p>Both SLE and some of the medicines used for SLE can harm an unborn child. Talk to your provider before you become pregnant. If you become pregnant, find a provider who is experienced with SLE and pregnancy.</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>When to Contact a Medical Professional</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-8" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-8"><p>Contact your provider if you have symptoms of SLE. Also contact your provider if you have this disease and your symptoms get worse or a new symptom occurs. </p></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Alternative Names</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Alt" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Alt"><p>Disseminated lupus erythematosus; SLE; Lupus; Lupus erythematosus; Butterfly rash - SLE; Discoid lupus</p></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Images</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-tnails" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div name="Images" class="section-body" id="section-tnails"><ul class="img-grid group">
|
||
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/17134t.jpg" alt="Systemic lupus erythematosus" title="Systemic lupus erythematosus" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/17134.htm">Systemic lupus erythematosus</a></li>
|
||
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/1868t.jpg" alt="Lupus, discoid - view of lesions on the chest" title="Lupus, discoid - view of lesions on the chest" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/1868.htm">Lupus, discoid - view of lesions on the chest</a></li>
|
||
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/2496t.jpg" alt="Lupus - discoid on a child's face" title="Lupus - discoid on a child's face" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/2496.htm">Lupus - discoid on a child's face</a></li>
|
||
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/2507t.jpg" alt="Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face" title="Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/2507.htm">Systemic lupus erythematosus rash on the face</a></li>
|
||
<li><img src="//medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/tnails/9069t.jpg" alt="Antibodies" title="Antibodies" class="side-img"/><a href="../imagepages/9069.htm">Antibodies</a></li>
|
||
</ul></div></div></section><section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>References</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-Ref" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div class="section-body" id="section-Ref"><p>Aringer M, Costenbader K, Daikh D, et al. 2019 European League against rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus. <em>Arthritis Rheumatol</em>. 2019;71(9):1400-1412. PMID: 31385462 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31385462/" target="_blank">pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31385462/</a>.</p><p>Crow MK. Etiology and pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus. In: Firestein GS, Budd RC, Gabriel SE, Koretzky GA, McInnes IB, O'Dell JR, eds. <em>Firestein & Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology</em>. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 84.</p><p>Crow MK. Systemic lupus erythematosus. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. <em>Goldman-Cecil Medicine</em>. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 245. </p><p>Fanouriakis A, Kostopoulou M, Alunno A, et al. 2019 update of the EULAR recommendations for the management of systemic lupus erythematosus. <em>Ann Rheum Dis</em>. 2019;78(6):736-745. PMID: 30926722 <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30926722/" target="_blank">pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30926722/</a>.</p></div></div></section>
|
||
<section><div class="section"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Review Date 1/25/2023</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-version" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div>
|
||
<div id="section-version" class="section-body"><p>Updated by: Neil J. Gonter, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Columbia University, NY and private practice specializing in Rheumatology at Rheumatology Associates of North Jersey, Teaneck, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Internal review and update on 07/12/2024 by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.</p>
|
||
</div></div></section><section><div class="section ency-citation"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title ency-citation"><div id="citation-how-to"><button><span>Learn how to cite this page</span></button></div></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div></div></section><section><div class="section sec-mb"><div class="section-header"><div class="section-title"><h2>Related MedlinePlus Health Topics</h2></div><div class="section-button"><button type="submit" aria-controls="section-mtp" role="button" title="Expand/Collapse section"><span class="icon icon-section-action">
|
||
</span></button></div><div class="sm-live-area hide-offscreen" aria-live="polite">
|
||
</div></div><div name="Related MedlinePlus Health Topics" class="section-body" id="section-mtp"><ul class="side-nav"><li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/lupus.html">Lupus</a></li>
|
||
|
||
|
||
</ul></div></div></section></div></div></article>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<footer>
|
||
|
||
<div class="provider-box group">
|
||
<div class="urac-logo">
|
||
<a href="https://accreditnet.urac.org/directory/#/certification/HCP-2/info"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/CertifiedSeal.png"/></a>
|
||
<p class="urac-logo-info">Health Content Provider<br>06/01/2025</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<p class="adam-info">
|
||
<a href='javascript:urac_open();'>A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC</a>, for Health Content Provider (www.urac.org). URAC's <a href='javascript:hwsopen();'>accreditation program</a> is an independent audit to verify that A.D.A.M. follows rigorous standards of quality and accountability. 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 <a href='javascript:edpolopen();'>editorial policy, editorial process</a>, and <a href='javascript:ppopen();'>privacy policy</a>. A.D.A.M. is also a founding member of Hi-Ethics. This site complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information: <a href='javascript:honc_open();'>verify here</a>.
|
||
</p>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<p class="adam-info">
|
||
The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only – they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997-2025 A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited.
|
||
</p>
|
||
<div class="adam-logo">
|
||
<a href="https://www.adam.com/about" target="_blank"><img width="49" height="10" alt="About A.D.A.M." src="https://medlineplus.gov/ency/images/ency/ftrAdamlogo.gif"/></a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div id="mplus-footer">
|
||
<div class="footer1">
|
||
<ul class="secondarynav">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/">About MedlinePlus</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/whatsnew/">What's New</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/sitemap.html">Site Map</a></li>
|
||
<li><a name="contact" target="_blank" href="https://support.nlm.nih.gov/knowledgebase/category/?id=CAT-01231&category=medlineplus&from="><span>Customer Support</span></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<ul class="follow-footer">
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/rss.html" class="follow-item">Subscribe to RSS<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/feed.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="RSS" title="RSS"></a></li>
|
||
<li><span class="follow-label">Follow us</span>
|
||
<a href="https://twitter.com/medlineplus" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_twitter.png" class="follow-icon" alt="X" title="X"></a>
|
||
<a href="https://facebook.com/Mplus.gov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_share_fb.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Facebook" title="Facebook"></a>
|
||
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/mplusgov/" class="follow-item" target="_blank"><img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/Instagram_Glyph_Gradient_RGB.png" class="follow-icon" alt="Instagram" title="Instagram"></a>
|
||
</li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/social-media-toolkit/" class="social-media-toolkit-item">Social Media Toolkit<img src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/i_social_media_toolkit.png" class="social-media-toolkit-icon" alt="Social Media Toolkit" title="Social Media Toolkit"></a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="footer2">
|
||
<ul>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.nlm.nih.gov/web_policies.html" target="_blank">NLM Web Policies</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/usingcontent/" >Copyright</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="//medlineplus.gov/accessibility.html">Accessibility</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/using/criteria/">Guidelines for Links</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="//medlineplus.gov/plugins.html">Viewers & Players</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://www.hhs.gov/vulnerability-disclosure-policy/index.html" target="_blank">HHS Vulnerability Disclosure</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/medlineplus-connect/">MedlinePlus Connect for EHRs</a></li>
|
||
<li><a href="https://medlineplus.gov/about/developers/">For Developers</a></li>
|
||
</ul>
|
||
<div class="address">
|
||
<a href="//www.nlm.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Library of Medicine</a>
|
||
<span>8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894</span>
|
||
<a href="//www.hhs.gov" target="_blank">U.S. Department of Health and Human Services</a>
|
||
<a href="//www.nih.gov" target="_blank">National Institutes of Health</a>
|
||
</div>
|
||
<div class="return-top"><a href="#top" title="Return to top"><img class="return-top-icon" alt="Return to top" src="https://medlineplus.gov/images/return-top.png"></a></div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
</div>
|
||
|
||
</footer>
|
||
</div><!-- End Wrap -->
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/jquery-3.6.0.min.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-frontend-controls.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<!--[if lte IE 9]>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/jquery.placeholder.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
|
||
<![endif]-->
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/mplus-share.js?id=1112022" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/control.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/uswds/js/uswds.min.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
<script src="https://medlineplus.gov/jslib/ency/ency.js" type="text/javascript">
|
||
</script>
|
||
</body>
|
||
</html> |