Here are the conditions that are most likely to mimic the symptoms of lupus and how to make sure you get the right diagnosis.
It can be confused with other arthritic and painful conditions: Lupus can cause joint pain, swelling and stiffness like rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia. It can masquerade as thyroid disease: Fatigue, weight changes and mood swings are common in both lupus and thyroid disorders.
Lupus and Sjogren's syndrome are both autoimmune diseases. Up to 5.5 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with lupus or Sjogren's syndrome. However, Sjogren's syndrome occurs up to three times more than lupus, but one-third of lupus patients also have Sjogren's syndrome.
Corticosteroids. Corticosteroid medications have anti-inflammatory properties that can reduce inflammation and relieve redness, burning, itching, and swelling. Corticosteroids also help shrink and flatten raised lesions. Topical corticosteroid treatment is often part of a long-term treatment plan.
Common Lupus Symptoms
The ACR criteria include malar rash; discoid rash; photosensitivity (development of a rash after sun exposure); oral or nasal ulcers; arthritis of multiple joints; serositis: (inflammation of the lining around the lungs or heart); kidney disease indicated by protein or casts in the urine; neurological disorders such as ...
The Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV) infects more than 94% of people on Earth. While EBV has long been associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the mechanism(s) by which it may promote disease has remained unclear — until now.
A discoid lupus rash typically: Doesn't itch or cause pain. Has circular, coin- or disk-shaped patches that are thick and scaly. May scar or discolor skin (lighter or darker than your natural tone or red to purple) when it heals.
Hydroxychloroquine: This is a prescription medication that treats malaria. It can relieve lupus symptoms and slow down how quickly they get worse. NSAIDs: These over-the-counter pain relievers also reduce inflammation.
Because of a variety of technical factors, it is possible to have a negative ANA but a positive specific antibody test, though this is very uncommon. Thus an "ANA-negative" person with strongly positive antibody to Sm is said to have lupus.
But essentially everyone with lupus is EBV-infected, studies have shown. An EBV-lupus connection has been long suspected but never nailed down until now.
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.
Pregnant women with lupus, especially those having a flare, are at higher risk for complications. These include: Miscarriage. Preterm delivery, especially with a lupus flare.
Some uncommon symptoms of lupus include angina, stroke and mini-stroke, pregnancy loss, kidney problems, and blood problems. Lupus can be difficult to diagnose, but reporting less common symptoms may help doctors make an accurate diagnosis.
People with Sjögren's might experience symptoms like:
There isn't a single test for lupus, so your doctor will need to gather a lot of information in a variety of ways, starting with your medical history. Next, your doctor will do an exam and look for some of the physical signs of lupus.
Having lupus can make everyday life challenging. When your lupus is active, symptoms like joint stiffness, pain, fatigue, confusion, or depression can make simple tasks difficult — and sometimes impossible.
BELIMUMAB (be LIM ue mab) treats certain types of lupus. It works by slowing down an overactive immune system, which reduces inflammation and other symptoms of lupus.
A prominent natural option is dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), a hormone that has shown promise in reducing lupus symptoms in clinical studies. Other proposed treatments include omega-3 rich fish oil, which may offer anti-inflammatory effects, and flaxseed, potentially beneficial for lupus-related kidney issues.
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.
Lupus can also affect your hair and nails
The most common type of lupus, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), can cause dry, coarse hair to develop along the hairline. These dry, coarse hairs break off easily, causing the sparse-looking hair known as lupus hair. Other types of hair loss also develop.
Rheumatoid arthritis
This autoimmune disorder is another systemic disease, which means the inflammation not only damages joints but can cause increase the risk of heart disease and cause scarring in the lungs. Some symptoms of RA are similar to those of lupus, including fatigue, fever, rashes, and dry eyes.
People with lupus should avoid certain supplements, including echinacea, spirulina, and vitamin E. These supplements may increase the immune system response and trigger lupus symptoms. It is also helpful to avoid excess sun exposure, salt, and alfalfa sprouts, which may also make symptoms worse.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a systemic autoimmune disease characterized by antinuclear antibodies (ANAs). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has been epidemiologically associated with SLE, yet its role in pathogenesis remains incompletely defined.
New findings suggest lupus may be linked to Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), which nearly all adults carry. Scientists say this discovery could help explain how lupus develops and guide future treatment options.