Symptoms:

Symptoms vary from person to person, and may come and go. The condition may affect one organ or body system at first. Others may become involved later. Almost all people with SLE have joint pain and most develop arthritis. Frequently affected joints are the fingers, hands, wrists, and knees.

Inflammation of various parts of the heart may occur as pericarditis, endocarditis, or myocarditis. Chest pain and arrhythmias may result from these conditions.

General symptoms include:

• Arthritis
• Fatigue
• Fever
• General discomfort, uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise)
• Joint pain and swelling
• Muscle aches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Pleural effusions
• Pleurisy (causes chest pain)
• Psychosis
• Seizures
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Skin rash -- a "butterfly" rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose affects about half of those with SLE. The rash gets worse when in sunlight. The rash may also be widespread.
• Swollen glands

Additional symptoms that may be associated with this disease:

• Abdominal pain
• Blood disorders, including blood clots
• Blood in the urine
• Coughing up blood
• Fingers that change color upon pressure or in the cold
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores
• Nosebleed
• Numbness and tingling
• Red spots on skin
• Skin color is patchy
• Swallowing difficulty
• Visual disturbance

Signs and tests:

The diagnosis of SLE is based upon the presence of at least four out of eleven typical characteristics of the disease. The doctor will listen to your chest with a stethoscope. A sound called a heart friction rub or pleural friction rub may be heard. A neurological exam will also be performed.

Tests used to diagnose SLE may include:

• Antibody tests, including:
  • Antinuclear antibody (ANA) panel
  • Anti-double strand (ds) DNA
  • Anti-phospholipid antibodies
  • Anti-smith antibodies
• CBC to show low white blood cells, hemoglobin, or platelets
• Chest x-ray showing pleuritis or pericarditis
• Kidney biopsy
• Urinalysis to show blood, casts, or protein in the urine

This disease may also alter the results of the following tests:

• Anti-SSA or -SSB antibodies
• Anti-thyroglobulin antibody
• Anti-thyroid microsomal antibody
• Complement components (C3 and C4)
• Coombs' test - direct
• Cryoglobulins
• ESR
• Rheumatoid factor
• RPR - a test for syphilis
• Serum globulin electrophoresis
• Serum protein electrophoresis