Systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE,makes up about 70 percent of all cases of lupus. SLE can be Mild or severe and can affect various parts of the body. Common symptoms include fatigue, hair loss, sensitivity to the sun (photosensitivity), painful and swollen joints, unexplained fever, skin rashes, and kidney problems. In general the diagnosis of lupus is based on both physical symptoms and lab results.
Cutaneous(kyoo-TAY-nee-uhss) lupus erythematosus can be limited to the skin or seen in those with SLE. “Cutaneous” means “skin.” Symptoms may include rashes/lesions, hair loss, vasculitis (swelling of the blood vessels), ulcers, and photosensitivity. A doctor will remove a small piece of the rash or sore and look at it under a microscope to tell if someone has skin lupus and what form it is. There are two major kinds of cutaneous lupus
Cutaneous(kyoo-TAY-nee-uhss) lupus erythematosus can be limited to the skin or seen in those with SLE. “Cutaneous” means “skin.” Symptoms may include rashes/lesions, hair loss, vasculitis (swelling of the blood vessels), ulcers, and photosensitivity. A doctor will remove a small piece of the rash or sore and look at it under a microscope to tell if someone has skin lupus and what form it is. There are two major kinds of cutaneous lupus
Discoid(DISS-koid) lupus erythematosus,also called DLE, mainly affects the skin. The discoid rash usually begins as a red raised rash that becomes scaly or changes color to a dark brown. These rashes often appear on the face and scalp, but other areas may also be affected. Many people with DLE have scarring. Sometimes DLE causes sores in the mouth or nose. A doctor will remove a small piece of the rash or sore and look at it under a microscope to tell if someone has DLE. If you have DLE, there is a small chance that you will later get SLE. Currently there is no way to know if someone with DLE will get SLE.
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus,makes up 10 percent of lupus cases. About 50 percent of the time, people with subacute cutaneous lupus also have SLE. Subacute cutaneous lupus causes skin lesions on parts of the body exposed to sun. These lesions do not cause scars.
Drug-induced lupusis a form of lupus caused by certain medicines. The symptoms of drug-induced lupus are like those of systemic lupus, but only rarely affect major organs. Symptoms can include joint pain, muscle pain, and fever, and are mild for most people. Most of the time, the disease goes away when the medicine is stopped. However, not everyone who takes these drugs will get drug-induced lupus.
The drugs most commonly connected with drug-induced lupus are used to treat other chronic conditions, such as seizures, high blood pressure, or rheumatoid arthritis. Examples include procainamide (Pronestyl, Procanbid); hydralazine (Apresoline; also, hydralazine is an ingredient in Apresazide and BiDil); phenytoin (Dilantin); etanercept (Enbrel); and adalimumab (Humira).
Neonatal lupusis a rare disease in infants that is caused by certain antibodies from the mother. These antibodies can be found in mothers who have lupus. But it is also possible for an infant to have neonatal lupus even though the mother is healthy. However, in these cases the mother will often develop symptoms of lupus later in life. At birth, an infant with neonatal lupus may have a skin rash, liver problems, or low blood cell counts, but these symptoms disappear completely after several months and have no lasting effects. Infants with neonatal lupus can also have a rare but serious heart defect. With proper testing, physicians can now identify most at-risk mothers, and the infant can be treated at or before birth. Most infants of mothers with lupus are healthy.
SOURCE
womenshealth.gov
