Lupus Signs, Symptoms and Diagnosis
By Jeri Jewett-Tennant, MPH, About.com Guide to Lupus
There's a joke on the TV show "House, M.D.," that every mysterious illness must be lupus (but never is). It is a testament to how tricky systemic lupus erythematosus can be to diagnosis and treat. But there are telltale signs and symptoms -- and definitive criteria for diagnosis -- that help make doctors and patients make the call.
Signs and Symptoms
A knowledge of the nuances of lupus, as well as its signs and symptoms, is what helps tip a patient -- and a doctor -- off to the condition.
- What Causes Lupus?
- What to Look For: Lupus Criteria List
- When To Call The Doctor
- Statistics, Facts and Figures
Diagnosis
If a doctor thinks you may have lupus, how does she go about determining whether you actually do or don't? How does she figure out what form of lupus you have?
Types of Lupus
You've been diagnosis with lupus. But the question now is, what type of lupus? Find out a bit about the various forms of the disease.
- Neonatal Lupus
- Subacute Cutaneous Lupus
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Who Discovered Lupus? A Short History
Possible Complications
Systemic lupus erythematosus, or simply lupus, is an autoimmune disease that can damage internal organs and often leads to a number of health complications. Often the patient notices the complications before they are diagnosed with lupus.
- Introduction to Possible Complications
- Arthritis
- Fibromyalgia
- Myocarditis
- Nephritis
- Osteoporosis
- Pancreatitis
FAQs
There are always those little questions that just don't seem to fit anywhere else - but they're still questions that need answered.
