Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form of lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease—a disorder in which the body harms its own healthy cells and tissues. This leads to inflammation and damage of body tissues in the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and/or the brain. Lupus is also considered a rheumatic disease because it can cause aches, pain, and stiffness in the joints, muscles, and bones.

Lupus usually first affects people between the ages of 15 and 45 years, but it can also occur in childhood or later in life. Patients experience periods of chronic disease and remission. The prevalence of the disease is not precisely known, ranging from an estimated 15 to 50 cases per 100,000 people.

Lupus is often accompanied by the following signs and symptoms.

• Extreme fatigue
• Painful or swollen joints (arthritis)
• Muscle pain and stiffness
• Unexplained fever
• Skin rashes
• Kidney problems
• Hair loss
• Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain
• Headaches, migraine, seizures, stroke
• Depression, anxiety, confusion
• Photosensitivity (sensitivity to sunlight)

The cause of lupus is unknown. Researchers believe that there is probably no single cause but rather a combination of genetic, environmental, and possibly hormonal factors that work together.

The following categories of people are at higher than average risk for lupus.

• Many more women than men have lupus.
• Lupus is more common in black women and women of Hispanic, Asian, and Native American descent than in white women.
• Lupus can run in families, but the risk that a child or a brother or sister of a patient also will have lupus is quite low.

If you are experiencing symptoms associated with lupus, you should see your health care provider. A team of specialists usually becomes involved in making a diagnosis and determining which treatment or combination of therapies will work best for you. Because lupus is so complex, reaching a diagnosis may take time and occurs gradually as new symptoms appear.

A diagnosis of lupus is based on a physical examination and the results of laboratory tests, including the following.

• Complete blood count
• Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)—an elevated ESR indicates inflammation in the body
• Urinalysis
• Blood chemistries
• Complement test (a blood test that measures severity of infection)
• Antinuclear antibody test (ANA)—positive in most lupus patients; other antibody tests
• Syphilis test (may be falsely positive in people with lupus)
• Skin or kidney biopsy

Imaging techniques may be used to evaluate central nervous system changes or problems and other symptoms associated with lupus.

While lupus itself cannot be prevented, there are ways to prevent flare-ups. These include the following.

• Avoiding sun exposure, high-dose birth control pills, penicillin, and sulfonamides (anti-bacterial agents)
• Exercising regularly
• Receiving flu and pneumococcal vaccines

There is no known cure for lupus. However, your team of health care professionals can develop a treatment plan to prevent flare-ups, to treat them when they do occur, and to minimize complications.

Your health care provider may prescribe the following medications.

• Corticosteroid hormones, to rapidly suppress inflammation. For patients who cannot take corticosteroids, a type of immunosuppressive drug called methotrexate may be used.
• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), to control pain, swelling, and fever
• Antimalarials, to treat fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, and inflammation of the lungs, and to prevent flare-ups from recurring.
• Immunosuppressives, which restrain the overactive immune system by blocking the production of some immune cells and curbing the action of others.
• Intravenous gamma globulin, a blood protein that increases immunity, helps fight infection, and controls acute bleeding

Surgery is sometimes performed for lupus-related ailments.

A comprehensive treatment plan for lupus may include a range of complementary and alternative therapies.

Nutritional tips for patients with lupus include the following.

• Eliminate all suspected allergens, including dairy, wheat (gluten), soy, chocolate, eggs, corn, and preservatives; avoid alfalfa sprouts. Your provider may want to test for food sensitivities.
• A modified fast of five to seven days at two-week intervals may be helpful, especially during flare-ups. A modified fast can consist of eating fruits, vegetables, and fish or vegetable protein.
• Avoid coffee, alcohol, and smoking.
• Minimize red meat and saturated fats to decrease inflammation.

Potentially beneficial nutrient supplements include the following.

• Omega-3 fatty acids such as flaxseed and fish oils decrease inflammation.
• Beta-carotene (50 mg three times a day), although some controversy exists about the use of vitamin A. Check with your health care provider before using.
• Vitamin B₁₂ (1,000 mcg via injection once or twice a week) to heal lesions.
• Vitamin E (800 IU per day)
• Hydrochloric acid to decrease symptoms.
• DHEA (start at 5 mg three times a day and work up to 100 mg per day) to reduce symptoms in mild to moderate lupus, with incremental benefits over three to twelve months. Note: Tryptophan should be avoided in patients with SLE-type lupus.
• Melatonin (20 mg before bed) has been shown to be helpful in many autoimmune diseases. Take a lower dose if drowsiness occurs.
• Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) (3,000 mg twice a day) helps prevent joint and connective tissue breakdown.
• Iron can increase inflammation. Avoid it unless you are anemic (have low red blood cells).

Mix dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), yellowdock (Rumex crispus), echinacea (Echinacea purpurea), and garlic (Allium sativum) equal parts in a tea, 1 cup three times daily. Herbs may be useful for treating lupus, as well as secondary symptoms, such as depression and insomnia.

An experienced homeopath can prescribe a regimen for treating lupus that is designed especially for you. Some of the most common acute remedies are listed below.

• Arsenicum album for restless exhaustion
• Calcarea carbonica for overworked, overwhelmed people with poor stamina and low back pain
• Nux vomica for irritability with constipation and sharp, cramp-like pains
• Tuberculinum for repeated chest infections and joint pain with swollen glands

Acute dose is three to five pellets of 12X to 30C every one to four hours until symptoms are relieved.

Acupuncture may help balance immune response during remissions, and alleviate flare-ups.

The prognosis for lupus patients is mixed. Half of lupus patients who go into remission remain so for decades, but 90 percent of patients have complications. For women, symptoms tend to decrease after menopause. Ninety percent of patients have a survival rate of 10 years, and 63 to 75 percent have a survival rate of 20 years. Patients with certain complications from lupus tend to have a poor prognosis. The major cause of lupus-related death is infection.

Patients need to be closely monitored during flare-ups to determine the appropriate course of treatment and induce remission.

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