Are Lupus and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus the Same?

The four types of lupus include: 

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
  • Most common type of lupus and affect all parts of the body
• Cutaneous lupus erythematosus
  • Affects only the skin
• Drug-induced lupus
  • Short-term; caused by certain medicines
• Neonatal lupus
  • Affects newborn babies (rare)

Symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus include:

• Joint pain or swelling 
  • Swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes
  • Arthritis in two or more joints, plus swelling or tenderness
• Fever
• Headache
• Extreme fatigue 
• Sensitivity to light 
• Sores in the mouth or nose
• Chest pain when inhaling deeply
• Raised red patches on the skin
• Butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose 
• Hair loss
• Raynaud’s disease
• Muscle pain
• Weight loss
• Skin lesions
• Seizures or other nerve problems
• Blood clots, which can lead to stroke or seizures
• Blood abnormalities
• Respiratory problems
• Gastrointestinal problems
• Neurologic and psychiatric problems
• Eye problems 
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Excess protein in the urine

Systemic lupus erythematosus is usually treated with medications to help manage symptoms, such as:

• Immunosuppressives 
• Anticoagulants
• Antimalarials (to help protect skin from rashes and UV light)
• Anti-inflammatories and steroids 
• Biologics 

Home treatment that may help patients manage symptoms of lupus include:

• Dietary modifications
  • Some patients may need increased calories
  • Daily multivitamin 
  • Vitamin D supplementation
  • Salt restriction in patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) and/or kidney inflammation (nephritis)
• Management other medical conditions such as high blood pressure or osteoporosis
• Sun protection 
• No smoking
• Exercising
• Vaccination as recommended by your doctor
  • Influenza vaccine
  • Pneumococcal vaccines 
  • Quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine 
  • Hepatitis B vaccine