Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the form of the disease that most people are referring to when they say "lupus." The word "systemic" means the disease can affect many parts of the body. The symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus may be mild or serious. Although systemic lupus erythematosus usually first affects people between the ages of 15 and 45 years, it can occur in childhood or later in life as well.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is the form of the disease that most people are referring to when they say "lupus." The word "systemic" means the disease can affect many parts of the body. The symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus may be mild or serious. Although systemic lupus erythematosus usually first affects people between the ages of 15 and 45 years, it can occur in childhood or later in life as well. Systemic lupus can affect almost any organ or system of the body. For some people, only the skin and joints will be involved. In others, the joints, lungs, kidneys, blood or other organs and/or tissues may be affected.

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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common and serious type of lupus. With systemic lupus erythematosus, the immune system that normally protects the body from germs, viruses, and bacteria begins to malfunction. It generates antibodies that attack healthy tissue in different parts of the body. These tissues become inflamed as a result. Inflammation can occur in the skin, muscles, joints, heart, lungs, kidneys, blood vessels and the nervous system. systemic lupus erythematosus can fluctuate between active periods (flare-ups or exacerbation), and times of minimal symptoms or no symptoms (remission).

Generally, no two people with systemic lupus will have identical symptoms. Systemic lupus may include periods in which few, if any, symptoms are evident (remission) and other times when the disease becomes more active (flare). Most often when people mention "lupus," they are referring to the systemic form of the disease.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can affect any system or organ in the body including the joints, skin, lungs, heart, blood, kidney, or nervous system. Symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus can range from being a minor inconvenience to very serious and even life threatening. A person may experience no pain or they may experience extreme pain, especially in the joints. There may be no skin manifestations or rashes that are disfiguring. They may have no organ involvement or extreme organ damage. Most often when people mention "lupus," they are referring to the systemic form of the disease.

Each person with lupus has slightly different symptoms that can range from mild to severe and may come and go over time. However, some of the most common symptoms of lupus include painful or swollen joints (arthritis), unexplained fever, and extreme fatigue. A characteristic red skin rash-the so-called butterfly or malar rash-may appear across the nose and cheeks. Rashes may also occur on the face and ears, upper arms, shoulders, chest, and hands. Because many people with lupus are sensitive to sunlight (called photosensitivity), skin rashes often first develop or worsen after sun exposure.

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Common Symptoms of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus include;

• Painful or swollen joints and muscle pain.

• Unexplained fever.

• Red rashes, most commonly on the face.

• Chest pain upon deep breathing.

• Unusual loss of hair.

• Pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress (Raynaud's phenomenon).

• Sensitivity to the sun.

• Swelling (edema) in legs or around eyes.

• Mouth ulcers.

• Swollen glands

• Extreme fatigue

Other symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus include chest pain, hair loss, anemia (a decrease in red blood cells), mouth ulcers, and pale or purple fingers and toes from cold and stress. Some people also experience headaches, dizziness, depression, confusion, or seizures. New symptoms may continue to appear years after the initial diagnosis, and different symptoms can occur at different times. Symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus can range from mild to severe and may come and go over time.

In some people with lupus, only one system of the body, such as the skin or joints, is affected. Other people experience symptoms in many parts of their body. Just how seriously a body system is affected varies from person to person. The following systems in the body also can be affected by lupus.

• Kidneys: Inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis) can impair their ability to get rid of waste products and other toxins from the body effectively. There is usually no pain associated with kidney involvement, although some patients may notice swelling in their ankles. Most often, the only indication of kidney disease is an abnormal urine or blood test. Because the kidneys are so important to overall health, lupus affecting the kidneys generally requires intensive drug treatment to prevent permanent damage.

• Lungs: Some people with lupus develop pleuritis, an inflammation of the lining of the chest cavity that causes chest pain, particularly with breathing. Patients with lupus also may get pneumonia.

• Central nervous system: In some patients, lupus affects the brain or central nervous system. This can cause headaches, dizziness, memory disturbances, vision problems, seizures, stroke, or changes in behavior.

• Blood vessels: Blood vessels may become inflamed (vasculitis), affecting the way blood circulates through the body. The inflammation may be mild and may not require treatment or may be severe and require immediate attention.

• Blood: People with lupus may develop anemia, leukopenia (a decreased number of white blood cells), or thrombocytopenia (a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, which assist in clotting). Some people with lupus may have an increased risk for blood clots.

• Heart: In some people with lupus, inflammation can occur in the heart itself (myocarditis and endocarditis) or the membrane that surrounds it (pericarditis), causing chest pains or other symptoms. Lupus can also increase the risk of atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries).

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