Lupus 10 Things You Should Know About Lupus By Carol Eustice Carol Eustice Facebook Carol Eustice is a writer covering arthritis and chronic illness, who herself has been diagnosed with both rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Learn about our editorial process Updated on February 02, 2020 Print Lupus is a complicated disease. Whether it has been suggested you may have lupus, or you have a definitive diagnosis, you should know these 10 basic facts about lupus. Team Static / Getty Images Lupus Is an Autoimmune, Rheumatic Disease In lupus, the immune system of the body attacks its own cells and tissues. Specifically, the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, eyes, heart, nervous system, and other organs of the body are affected. There Are 5 Types Systemic lupus erythematosus: affects joints and organs. Discoid lupus: affects the skin. Sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus: characterized by a specific, non-scarring skin lesion. Drug-induced lupus: Can develop after exposure to certain drugs Neonatal lupus: affects newborns. 90% of Patients Are Women Lupus affects roughly 10 times as many women as men.Most often, lupus develops in people 15 to 44 years old.Though lupus is most prevalent among women, it also may affect men and children, as well as people of all ages. There Are 11 American College of Rheumatology Criteria for Lupus Lupus is differentiated from other connective tissue diseases, based on eleven criteria offered by the American College of Rheumatology for classification purposes. Butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and noseScaly disk-shaped rash on face, neck, ears, scalp, chestSunlight sensitivityMouth sores, tongue sores, inside nose soresArthritis pain in jointsPain in chest and side when breathing or movingKidney problemsNeurologic problemsBlood problems such as anemia, low white cell countImmune system malfunctionAntinuclear antibodies It is recommended that if you have four or more of the eleven criteria, you should consult with a rheumatologist. Getting a Diagnosis May Be Difficult Lupus is considered an unpredictable disease, with no two cases exactly the same. The unique pattern of symptoms associated with lupus has caused some to say that lupus is like a snowflake. No two are alike. There are several symptoms of lupus which mimic other rheumatic diseases (e.g., severe fatigue), making the diagnostic process difficult. Treatment Depends on Severity of Symptoms Conservative treatment with NSAIDs (i.e., nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen) and Plaquenil may be appropriate for lupus patients with non-life threatening symptoms such as joint pain, muscle pain, fatigue, and skin rashes. More aggressive treatment which may include high dose corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs is used when there are severe organ complications. The benefits and risks of treatment must be weighed by each patient and their doctor. Up to 1.5 Million People May Have Lupus in the US Though the Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 1.5 million Americans have lupus, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer a more conservative estimate of 161,000 to 322,000. Approximately 70% of lupus cases are systemic. In 50% of those cases, it is a major organ which is affected. Famous People With Lupus Disease Certain Races Have an Increased Risk According to the Lupus Foundation of America, lupus is two to three times more prevalent among people of color, including African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. The Majority of Patients Lead Normal Lives With careful monitoring of lupus and treatment adjustments as needed, most lupus patients lead normal lives. There may be some limitations and the disease may impose restrictions at times but with good disease management quality of life can be sustained. The worst adversary comes from within, when the patient loses hope, loses will, and gives in to frustration and depression. Rheumatologist Is a Specialist That Treats Lupus Your primary care doctor can refer you to a rheumatologist, or you can get an appointment through self-referral if your health insurance allows it. Evaluation by a rheumatologist is important so that a patient can develop a treatment plan. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 6 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Maidhof W, Hilas O. Lupus: an overview of the disease and management options. P T. 37(4):240–249. Goetsch A. Systemic lupus erythematosus (sle). Oncofertility Consortium [internet]. Lupus facts and statistics. Lupus Foundation of America [internet]. Aringer M, Costenbader K, Daikh D, et al. 2019 European League Against Rheumatism/American College of Rheumatology Classification Criteria for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Arthritis Rheumatol. 71(9):1400-1412. doi:10.1002/art.40930 Diagnosis. Lupus Research Alliance [internet]. Cojocaru M, Cojocaru IM, Silosi I, Vrabie CD. Manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. Maedica (Buchar). 6(4):330–336.