Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Clinical Manifestations

Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
Updated on February 02, 2025
00:00
00:00

The clinical manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus are diverse and variable. The primary symptoms involve the bones, joints, and muscles, with joint pain being a common presentation. The second major area affected is the skin and mucous membranes, where the most common symptoms are symmetrical butterfly-shaped erythema and discoid erythema on the face. Some patients experience kidney involvement, primarily presenting as significant proteinuria, hematuria, and cylindrical urine. Pulmonary involvement is also common in some patients, often manifesting as pleurisy. The digestive system can also be affected, typically presenting as abdominal pain. The hematological system is a very common site of involvement in lupus, mainly indicated by routine blood tests showing decreases in white blood cells and platelets.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
1min 5sec home-news-image

How to Treat Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

Firstly, systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that commonly occurs in women of childbearing age. It is an autoimmune disease that cannot be cured but can only be managed with medications to alleviate symptoms, delay complications, and control the progression of the disease. Once diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, it is necessary to score the disease activity to assess whether other organs are involved. The treatment of this disease primarily involves the use of corticosteroids, which should be calculated based on body weight. Initially, an adequate dose of corticosteroids should be administered. After stabilizing the disease for a month, the dosage should be reduced weekly. During the medication period, it is necessary to regularly monitor blood routine, liver and kidney function, complement levels, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate. (Please take medication under the guidance of a professional physician and do not self-medicate.)

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
58sec home-news-image

Systemic lupus erythematosus is not contagious.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage multiple systems and affect multiple organs. Its occurrence is related to genetics, environmental pollution, hormonal levels, and infections. It is classified as an autoimmune disease and is not infectious or contagious. Once diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, it is important to thoroughly complete related examinations and assess the activity level of the disease, as treatment plans vary accordingly. Therefore, for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, there is no need to worry about it being contagious. However, there is a hereditary tendency, meaning if the parents have it, the likelihood of their children developing the disease is significantly higher than others.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
1min home-news-image

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Symptom Chart

Firstly, systemic lupus erythematosus is a multi-system, multi-organ autoimmune disease that cannot be cured but can only be controlled with medication to slow the progression of the disease and prevent complications. Clinical manifestations are diverse, with most early symptoms typically being atypical, and sometimes not presenting any discomfort at all. Some individuals may experience acute onset, which can include high fever, progressive decline in platelets, and even progressive anemia, all characteristic of the acute phase. Other common symptoms include fever, skin erythema, and even ischemia of the extremities. Some people may experience joint pain, mainly in the finger joints and knee joints, as well as swelling of the lower limbs, chest tightness, and decreased exercise tolerance, which are more typical manifestations.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
1min 34sec home-news-image

Can people with systemic lupus erythematosus have children?

Firstly, systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, and it can affect multiple organs including the heart, lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. Once diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, it is essential to complete routine urine tests, 24-hour urine protein quantification, chest CT, and other related examinations to fully assess the condition and distinguish between mild, moderate, and severe cases. Treatment plans should be formulated based on the assessment of the condition. If it is purely systemic lupus erythematosus without damage to other organs and the condition is stable with reduced maintenance doses of steroids, then pregnancy can be considered. However, during pregnancy, it is crucial to regularly monitor pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary artery pressure, 24-hour urine protein quantification, and kidney function. If complications such as lupus nephritis occur, treatment decisions should be based on the condition. For instance, if there is an increase in creatinine and significant proteinuria, pregnancy is not recommended as it can exacerbate the burden on the kidneys and lead to further deterioration of kidney function.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
1min 1sec home-news-image

Is systemic lupus erythematosus serious?

Firstly, whether systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is severe cannot be generalized. It is an autoimmune disease that cannot be completely cured and can cause damage to multiple systems and organs, leading to serious complications. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct a clinical analysis and assess the severity of the condition as mild, moderate, or severe after diagnosis. Furthermore, if severe anemia or a decrease in platelets occurs, the condition is relatively severe, and the presence of oliguria or anuria or central nervous system damage, this is known as lupus crisis. These conditions can be life-threatening, even leading to death. In such cases, the condition is relatively critical, and it is essential to actively treat and control the condition. Once the condition stabilizes, the medication dosage should be gradually reduced to maintain stability.