Early symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus

Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
Updated on September 09, 2024
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Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease causing multi-system damage, with clinical presentations that vary greatly between individuals. Most cases begin gradually, but some can onset abruptly, meaning severe complications that can threaten life can emerge within weeks or days. Early symptoms are often atypical. During active phases, most patients with systemic lupus erythematosus experience varying degrees of low-grade fever, with low to moderate fevers being most common. The primary manifestations include erythema of the skin and mucous membranes, and some individuals may experience photosensitivity, which results in a facial rash after exposure to sunlight. This is one of the most common clinical presentations.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Is systemic lupus erythematosus serious?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can vary in severity. The main criterion for determining whether it is mild or severe is to check whether SLE has involved important visceral organs, such as the lungs, the heart, and most commonly, the kidneys, as well as the most severe form, neuropsychiatric lupus. If a patient shows involvement of the aforementioned visceral systems, then lupus is considered to be relatively severe, and may sometimes even threaten the patient’s life. However, if lupus does not involve the visceral systems, it is considered to be mild.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Systemic lupus erythematosus is a disease.

Firstly, systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic disease. It is an autoimmune disease that can affect multiple systems and organs and cannot be cured. It can only be controlled over the long term with medication. The goals of comprehensive treatment are to control symptoms, prevent relapses, slow the progression of the disease, and provide symptomatic treatment. Because this disease cannot be cured, it is important to avoid sun exposure, overwork, and getting chilled in daily life to prevent triggering or worsening the condition. Particularly in women, it is crucial to avoid oral contraceptives.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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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.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Initial symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple systems and organs and is associated with a variety of autoimmune antibodies, primarily occurring in women of childbearing age. Its clinical manifestations are diverse, with the condition being mild and recurrently evolving. The most common symptoms involve changes to the skin, where various types of edematous erythema can occur, and in severe cases, there can be blisters, ulcers, erosion, skin atrophy, hyperpigmentation, and scar formation. Among these, the butterfly rash is most specific. Additionally, other symptoms may include joint swelling and pain; kidney involvement can lead to foamy urine, which is a common presentation; gastrointestinal involvement can cause diarrhea, and neurological involvement can lead to mental disorders and seizures. Therefore, once facial rashes, photosensitivity, or joint swelling and pain occur, it is crucial to be vigilant, undergo relevant examinations promptly, diagnose early, and treat early, as it is very important for the prognosis of the disease.

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Written by Yang Ya Meng
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Systemic lupus erythematosus symptoms

The symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus mainly include fever, oral ulcers, facial erythema, including discoid and malar rash, photosensitivity, joint pain, polyserositis, including pleural effusion and pericardial effusion, as well as kidney involvement. The main manifestations are positive urinary protein, hematuria, and casts in the urine. Severe cases may have neurological involvement, presenting as epilepsy, mental disorders, or altered consciousness. Blood tests in these patients can further reveal positive ANA, anti-double-stranded DNA, and anti-Sm antibodies, as well as low complement levels. These are the related symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus.