A chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues and can cause inflammation and damage in multiple organs.
Systemic lupus erythematosus, commonly called lupus, can affect many parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells, heart, lungs, and nervous system. Symptoms vary considerably between people and may include fatigue, joint pain or swelling, skin rashes, fever, and other organ-specific problems.
Lupus often follows a fluctuating course, with periods when symptoms become more active (flares) and periods when they improve. The disease is associated with abnormal immune responses, including the production of autoantibodies that can target the body’s own molecules and tissues.
QUICK FACT
Despite the name, “systemic” does not mean that every organ is affected. It indicates that lupus has the potential to involve multiple organ systems rather than being limited to one specific tissue.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
Rheumatoid arthritis: Both are autoimmune diseases that can cause joint inflammation, but they are distinct conditions and can affect different organs and tissues.
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