Systemic lupus erythematosus has several symptoms, including:

Rheumatology

Updated on May 14, 2025

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Common manifestations of lupus include facial butterfly rash, discoid rash, photosensitivity, joint pain or arthritis, mental symptoms, recurrent oral ulcers, hair loss, foamy urine, etc.

Patients with mesenteric vasculitis as the initial symptom mainly complain of abdominal pain and bloating.

If the hematological system is the initial symptom, the main complaint is usually fatigue.

If the patient presents with a seizure as the initial symptom, the main manifestation is limb convulsions.

The heterogeneity of lupus is strong, and different patients can exhibit completely different clinical manifestations.

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Written by Liu Li Ning

Rheumatology

54sec

Symptoms of lupus cerebritis

Symptoms of lupus cerebritis can range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms include migraines, personality changes, memory loss, or mild cognitive impairment. Severe cases may present with cerebrovascular accidents, coma, status epilepticus, and other central nervous system symptoms, including aseptic meningitis, cerebrovascular disease, demyelinating syndrome, headaches, movement disorders, spinal cord disease, epileptic seizures, acute mental confusion, anxiety, cognitive impairment, mood disturbances, and psychiatric disorders. Peripheral nervous system manifestations include Guillain-Barre syndrome, autonomic dysfunction, mononeuritis, myasthenia gravis, cranial nerve disorders, nerve plexus disorders, and polyneuritis.

Written by Liu Li Ning

Rheumatology

58sec

Do the rashes caused by lupus itch?

The erythema triggered by lupus erythematosus may or may not be itchy, varying from person to person, with each individual's condition not being entirely the same. The erythema caused by systemic lupus erythematosus also presents very differently clinically, with the typical manifestation being a butterfly-shaped erythema on the face. Other common forms include discoid erythema, reticular purpura, polymorphic rash, periungual erythema, and more. The specific pathogenic mechanism is currently unclear, and in some patients, the condition is caused by photosensitivity. After treatment, the erythema cannot completely disappear in a significant number of patients, leaving some pigment deposition. If only the skin is affected, treatment can involve the topical use of tacrolimus ointment or the oral intake of immunomodulators like hydroxychloroquine, and if necessary, oral corticosteroids may be administered.

Written by Liu Li Ning

Rheumatology

1min 2sec

What does early lupus erythematosus look like?

In the early stages of lupus erythematosus, symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain, oral ulcers, and hair loss may occur. Lupus erythematosus is a heterogeneous disease that can present a variety of clinical symptoms. This disease can affect multiple systems and organs throughout the body, leading to different clinical manifestations depending on the target organ involved. For example, patients with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis may experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing; if the heart is affected, significant pericardial effusion may occur, possibly leading to difficulty breathing. The specific pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus is still unclear. It is more commonly seen in females. Therefore, there is currently no specific cure for systemic lupus erythematosus, and the treatment mainly involves long-term maintenance with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.

Written by Zhang Lin

Rheumatology and Immunology Nephrology

39sec

Can people with lupus eat mangoes?

For patients with lupus erythematosus, we recommend caution in consuming mangoes. Mangoes are among the fruits that commonly cause allergies. After allergic reactions, most people develop rashes, and skin redness is a symptom of lupus erythematosus. If an allergy is triggered, it can worsen the redness and may also be confused with the rash associated with lupus patients. We can eat some grapes, as grapes are a nourishing food that promotes health and longevity. We can also eat some watermelons, which are rich in water and act as a natural nutrient solution, containing various nutrients. However, the intake of food should not be excessive.

Written by Zhang Lin

Rheumatology and Immunology Nephrology

1min 5sec

Lupus erythematosus taking steroids side effects

Patients with lupus mainly use steroid treatment, but steroids have many side effects during their application, such as increased blood pressure, inducing or exacerbating infections, inducing or aggravating peptic ulcers, necrosis of the femoral head, osteoporosis and vertebral compressive fractures, delaying wound healing in injured patients, increasing blood sugar, etc. Additionally, steroids can cause nervous sensitivity, agitation, insomnia, emotional changes, and even apparent mental symptoms, inducing seizures such as epilepsy. Some patients may also have suicidal tendencies. Therefore, it is necessary to use medication rationally under the guidance of a doctor, reduce the dosage timely, and effectively prevent and treat to minimize the occurrence of side effects. Taking steroids can also lead to weight gain; hair loss is relatively less common. The occurrence of side effects varies among individuals and should be tailored to the patient's specific condition.

Systemic lupus erythematosus has several symptoms, including:

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Other Voices

Symptoms of lupus cerebritis

Do the rashes caused by lupus itch?

What does early lupus erythematosus look like?

Can people with lupus eat mangoes?

Lupus erythematosus taking steroids side effects