Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with an increased risk of hospitalization.
You should also be aware of symptoms that require that you see a doctor immediately. These include: Severe abdominal pain. Chest pain or shortness of breath.
Previous reports have identified lupus flare and infection as the two most common reasons for hospitalization [1,6-8].
The average length of hospitalization for all patients was 8.5 (11.2) days. There was no significant difference in length of stay between patients admitted with SLE flare [11.8 (12.7) days] and those admitted for non-SLE flare reasons [7.7 (10.7) days].
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus admitted to the intensive care unit in the study sample was 21.4%, and the death rate among them is 18.2%. In our study, the main causes of intensive care admission were cardiovascular causes followed by renal failure then infections.
Cardiovascular disease, not lupus itself, is the number one cause of death in people with lupus. (It is actually the number one cause of death around the world.) The number two cause of death for people with lupus is infection.
SLE is the most common and most serious type of lupus. Other types of lupus include the following: Cutaneous lupus (skin lupus) is lupus that affects the skin in the form of a rash or lesions. This type of lupus can occur on any part of the body, but usually appears where the skin is exposed to sunlight.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with an increased risk of hospitalization. Multiple studies have reported SLE flare, infection, and cardiovascular (CV) events as the most common reasons for hospitalization.
Acute emergencies in patients with SLE include the following: Severe neurologic involvement. Systemic vasculitis. Profound thrombocytopenia with a thrombotic thrombocytopenia (TTP)–like syndrome. Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis.
Muscle and joint pain.
You may experience pain and stiffness, with or without swelling. This affects most people with lupus. Common areas for muscle pain and swelling include the neck, thighs, shoulders, and upper arms.
How much it will impact your life will depend on the severity, which can range from mild to severe. Lupus is also a hidden disability in many ways as often the symptoms are not obvious. Extreme Fatigue / tiredness.
Whole-body symptoms — Most people with lupus experience fatigue, fever, and weight changes at some point in their illness. Fatigue — Fatigue is the most common symptom of lupus and can be debilitating. Almost everyone with lupus experiences fatigue at some point, even when there are no other symptoms.
Class 4, or diffuse lupus nephritis
Class 4 involves damage to more than half of the glomerulus. A person will have high blood pressure. They may require dialysis as kidney function begins to worsen.
Lupus causes inflammation throughout the body, which can cause problems in organs, including: Kidney damage that can lead to changes in kidney function, including kidney failure. This is called lupus nephritis. Seizures and memory problems due to changes in the brain and central nervous system.
Kidneys About one half of people with lupus experience kidney involvement, and the kidney has become the most extensively studied organ affected by lupus. Lungs About 50% of people with SLE will experience lung involvement during the course of their disease.
People with lupus sometimes develop life-threatening complications. You should be aware of symptoms that require your loved one to see the doctor immediately. Also, be sure you know what to do if your loved one needs immediate medical attention.
People with SLE have episodes in which the condition gets worse (exacerbations) and other times when it gets better (remissions). Overall, SLE gradually gets worse over time, and damage to the major organs of the body can be life-threatening.
Lupus nephritis tends to develop within 5 years of the appearance of initial lupus symptoms. The condition affects about 40% of people who have SLE and can lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in 22% of patients over a period of 15 years.
Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are both chronic autoimmune disorders that can have significant impacts on a person's health and quality of life. However, it is difficult to say which one is worse as they affect people differently and have different symptoms.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease link—a disorder in which the body's immune system attacks the body's own cells and organs. Kidney disease caused by lupus may get worse over time and lead to kidney failure. If your kidneys fail, you will need dialysis or a kidney transplant to maintain your health.
As death from kidney disease has declined, heart attacks and related cardiovascular diseases have emerged as leading causes of early mortality in people with lupus.
Emotional stress -- such as a divorce, death in the family, or other life complications -- and anything that causes physical stress to the body -- such as surgery, physical harm, pregnancy, or giving birth -- are examples of triggers that can set off lupus or bring about a lupus flare.