What are the symptoms of lupus and how is it diagnosed?
Lupus can take many forms and does not affect everyone in the same way. Some of the more common symptoms are: • Fatigue and weakness • Joint pain and swollen joints • Rashes • Baldness • Sensitivity to sunlight “Patients with the new onset of lupus typically see their doctor because of a rash in sun-exposed areas, arthritis, chest discomfort, or fatigue,” McCune notes. “When a physician suspects lupus, an antinuclear antibody test, or ANA, is performed to help determine if the patient’s immune system is affected by lupus.” How is lupus treated? There is no cure for lupus, but treatment is steadily improving. A variety of medications ranging from anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen) to potent immune suppressive drugs may be needed at different times. Treatment will vary depending on the patient and can change as the disease changes within the patient. At the present time, there are highly effective therapies for lupus, but many of them also have severe side effects. An important
