Lupus

Symptoms of lupus vary greatly depending on the type you have, but may include:

• virtually any type of skin rash
• hair loss
• aches and pains
• inflammation in your tendons
• inflammation of your veins
• sharp pain in the lower part of your chest when breathing in deeply (pleurisy)
• depression and/ or psychosis
• kidney disease

Your consultant will speak to you about your symptoms and perform a physical examination. To make a diagnosis, your consultant will normally expect at least four of the internationally recognised list of 11 accepted conditions to be present. These are:

1. malar rash (red rash over your cheeks)

2. discmoid rash (red patches of skin on your body)

3. photosensitivity

4. mouth or nose ulcers

5. serositis (inflammation of the tissue covering your internal organs)

6. arthritis

7. renal disorders

8.neurological disorder (including seizures and balance problems)

9. haematological disorder

10. immunologic disorder

11. a positive anti-nuclear antibody test (ANA)

Treatment options include:

• medications (including aspirin and other non-steroids, anti-malaria drugs, steroids and immunosuppressive drugs)
• oral contraceptives
• sun cream to block out UV-rays on photosensitive skin
• lifestyle and food choices as directed by your consultant
• kidney dialysis or transplant, if you have severe kidney disease
• plasma exchange (separating and removing plasma from your blood)