Lupus Symptoms: What to Watch For
You may have lupus if your doctor finds at least four of these problems. A patient-friendly guide to the signs, including lupus nephritis.
You may have lupus if your doctor finds that you have at least four of the following problems. Recognizing them early can make a real difference.
Common signs include photosensitivity (sensitivity to the sun), a facial 'butterfly' rash or scarring discoid rash, significant hair loss, oral and nasal ulcers, joint pain and swelling, and chronic extreme fatigue. Chest pain or shortness of breath can occur from heart and lung inflammation.
Other manifestations include kidney disease (blood in the urine, or foamy urine that can suggest protein), neurological symptoms (stroke, headaches, 'brain fog,' seizures, psychosis), and blood abnormalities (low white blood cell count, anemia, low platelets). Many patients test positive for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), though these can also be found in healthy individuals.
Nephritis occurs when lupus autoantibodies affect the filtering structures of the kidney, causing inflammation. More than half of lupus patients will develop lupus nephritis, and up to two-thirds of children with lupus will develop it. If not controlled, it can lead to kidney failure or dialysis. Black, Hispanic/Latino, and Asian American patients are more likely to develop nephritis.
If you experience these symptoms, please see a rheumatologist.
Dr. Maggie Cadet, MD