Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis (MS) are both autoimmune diseases with overlapping symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, and neurological issues, but they target different systems: MS specifically attacks the central nervous system (brain/spinal cord), damaging nerve coverings (myelin); while Lupus (SLE) can attack any part of the body, commonly affecting skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, and sometimes the nervous system, often with a characteristic rash and sun sensitivity. Key differences lie in lupus's systemic nature (multi-organ) versus MS's central nervous system focus, with diagnostic blood tests helping differentiate them.
Lupus feels like a rollercoaster of unpredictable symptoms, most commonly overwhelming fatigue, joint pain/swelling, fevers, and skin issues like the characteristic "butterfly rash" on the face, often worsening in flares triggered by sun or stress, but it varies greatly, affecting different people's skin, joints, kidneys, brain, or other organs.
The course of MS is unpredictable and can cause a variety of symptoms in different people. It may cause hearing problems and other symptoms that have to do with the function of the inner ear, such as hearing loss, tinnitus, balance problems, and a muffled or full feeling in the ear.
Lupus flares can vary in length. Some may last several days; others may span weeks or more.
One of the most significant dangers of untreated lupus is the potential for organ damage. The inflammation caused by the immune system's misguided attacks can result in irreversible harm to organs and tissues.
Early signs of lupus often include extreme fatigue, joint pain/swelling, unexplained fever, and skin rashes, especially a butterfly-shaped rash on the face, but symptoms vary greatly and can develop slowly or suddenly, including hair loss, sun sensitivity, chest pain, and Raynaud's phenomenon (fingers/toes turning white/blue in cold). Because these symptoms mimic other conditions, seeing a doctor for persistent issues like headaches, mouth sores, or swelling is key for proper diagnosis.
As a result, people with lupus are frequently misdiagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, skin disorders, psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression or receive no answers at all.
Laboratory tests
Blood and urine tests may include: Complete blood count. This test measures the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets, as well as the amount of hemoglobin, a protein in red blood cells. Results may show you have anemia, which is common in lupus.
The headaches may come in episodes or may be an all-day or frequent occurrence. Headaches may be related to tension in the muscles around the eyes, face, neck or shoulders. Migraines are another common type of headache experienced by people with lupus.
Hearing problems aren't a common MS symptom. But people with MS can sometimes experience problems including tinnitus, increased sensitivity to sound and loss of hearing. There are other possible causes of hearing problems which are more common than MS.
1800 mg of Gabapentin a day is a common dose to help neuropathic pain. The FDA has approved PreGabalin and Cymbalta for treatment of diabetic related peripheral neuropathic pain and fibromyalgia, but we also use these medications for MS neuropathic pain in an off label fashion.
Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
You can spend it on whatever you need, such as paying for support to remain independent during relapses, or to help with extra costs such as heating, transport or help around the house. Some people with MS assume they can't get PIP because they're 'not disabled enough'.
Steroids Synthetic cortisone medications are some of the most effective treatments for reducing the swelling, warmth, pain, and tenderness associated with the inflammation of lupus. Cortisone usually works quickly to relieve these symptoms.
Lupus can attack many different parts of the body. Some call it the cruel mystery. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can strike any part of the body, but the wide range of symptoms can be easily mistaken for something else.
But your doctor can find out if you have lupus in other ways, including:
Some lupus complications can include:
The most common manifestation of neuro-lupus is cognitive dysfunction, which is characterized by clouded thinking, confusion, and impaired memory.
August 29 — The Lupus Research Alliance is excited to share the good news that a potential new medicine for lupus, anifrolumab, reduced disease activity versus placebo in a second Phase III study. Anifrolumab is a therapeutic antibody that blocks type I interferons, a molecule that promotes lupus inflammation.
Lupus causes swelling and irritation, called inflammation, that may affect joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs. Lupus can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms often are like those of other illnesses. A common sign of lupus is a facial rash that looks like butterfly wings across both cheeks.
Many people who have (or suspect they have) lupus see a rheumatologist (or pediatric rheumatologist if a child or teen). This type of doctor specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the joints and muscles.
Anti-Nuclear Antibody (ANA) Test. Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) are autoantibodies to the nuclei of your cells. 98% of all people with systemic lupus have a positive ANA test, making it the most sensitive diagnostic test for confirming diagnosis of the disease.
Neuromyelitis optica is often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, also known as MS, or is seen as a type of MS . But NMO is a different condition. Neuromyelitis optica can cause blindness, weakness in the legs or arms, and painful spasms.
Lyme disease is a bacterial infection that has many lupus-like symptoms, including fatigue, headaches, joint pain, fever, and skin rashes. Parvovirus B19 (fifth disease) also has lupus-like symptoms, including a cheek rash, joint pain, and headache.
Chemotherapy has been used widely for severe lupus and is known to be very effective for lupus. In this case, chemotherapy is being given to help the CAR T cell therapy be effective. However, one “side effect” is that it may immediately have significant beneficial effects on lupus disease activity.