Symptoms
What are the most common symptoms?
It often starts with vague joint pain. People with lupus are almost always very tired and tire easily. These symptoms are common to many illnesses and do not immediately suggest lupus.
The pain soon leads doctors to suspect an inflammatory rheumatic condition. Fatigue, as it is known in medical terms, is often cited by people with lupus as the symptom that limits them the most. Fatigue has only really come to public attention in recent years; many people with Long Covid suffer from it.
Lupus is also associated with other symptoms, such as a mild fever, unexplained weight loss, mouth ulcers, Raynaud’s syndrome (white fingers in the cold), sensitivity to sunlight and light, mild hair loss, and swelling of the joints or lymph nodes.
In around 30% of those affected, the characteristic butterfly rash appears on the face.
Butterfly rash. It occurs in around 30% of those affected.
Butterfly rash can be triggered or exacerbated by sunlight (UV radiation). It can also be a symptom of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE).
The symptoms of lupus vary greatly from person to person and can range in severity. They usually develop gradually. Especially if a patient does not display the typical butterfly rash, doctors often do not consider SLE for a long time. On average, the diagnosis is not made until 3–5 years after the onset of symptoms, but it can take much longer.
Some people with lupus suddenly become sensitive to sunlight or the cold. Or they develop new allergies and intolerances.
Symptoms that may indicate involvement of vital organs should be taken seriously:
- Chest pain (heart)
- Protein in the urine (kidneys)
- Shortness of breath (lungs)
- Seizures (central nervous system)
Not all patients experience organ involvement. In addition, specialists regularly monitor key test results (blood, urine), usually every six months, though sometimes only once a year if the results remain stable over the long term.
Various organs or parts of the body may be affected by the disease. The table shows which organs are affected by the disease and how frequently:
Affected organs / body region | high | medium | low | rare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Fatigue, performance, etc. | ||||
Skin | ||||
nervous system | ||||
Eyes | ||||
musculoskeletal system | ||||
Lungs | ||||
Heart | ||||
Kidneys | ||||
Digestive tract | ||||
Blood | ||||
Lymphatic system | ||||
Reproductive organs |