Systemic lupus erythematosus history and symptoms

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Raviteja Guddeti, M.B.B.S. [2]

Overview

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) one of several diseases known as the great imitator because its symptoms vary so widely it often mimics or is mistaken for other illnesses, and because the symptoms come and go unpredictably. Diagnosis can be elusive, with patients sometimes suffering unexplained symptoms and untreated SLE for years.

History and symptoms

Gastrointestinal involvement:

Organ system	Disease	Sympton
Gastrointestinal involvement	Dysphagia	Retrosternal chest pain Heartburn Regurgitation Odynophagia
	Peptic ulcer disease	Epigastric pain Food-provoked epigastric discomfort and fullness Early satiety Nausea
	Intestinal pseudo-obstruction	Abdominal pain Bloating Distension
	Protein-losing enteropathy	Profound edema Hypoalbuminemia Severe diarrhea
	Acute pancreatitis	Severe persistent epigastric pain often radiating to the back
	Mesenteric vasculitis	Abdominal pain Food aversion Weight loss Nausea Vomiting Diarrhea Due to chronic mesenteric ischemia
	Primary peritonitis	Abdominal bloating or distention Nausea and vomiting Diarrhea Constipation or the inability to pass gas Anorexia
Pulmonary involvement	Pleural disease	Cough Dyspnea Fever
	Acute pneumonitis	Fever Cough (sometimes with hemoptysis) Dyspnea/ physical examination reveals tachypnea, tachycardia, basilar crackles (may be late inspiratory), and hypoxemia
	Pulmonary hemorrhage	Dyspnea Cough Hemoptysis
	Interstitial lung disease	May be asymptomatic Chronic nonproductive cough Dyspnea Decreased exercise tolerance
	Thromboembolic disease	Dyspnea Sharp chest pain that may become worse with deep breathing or coughing
	Pulmonary hypertension	Dyspnea Palpitations Fatigue Impaired exercise tolerance Weakness Syncope Edema Increased abdominal girth/ phE=pulmonary hypertension (loud second heart sound) or cor pulmonale (eg, peripheral edema, ascites, hepatomegaly)/
	Shrinking lung	Dyspnea Pleuritic chest pain (episodic)
Cardiac involvement	Valvular disease	most often valve thickening, nodules, and regurgitation, and less frequently vegetations or stenotic lesions, is noted echocardiographically, and the presence of valvular lesions may increase the risk of serious complications
	Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis (Libman-Sacks, verrucous endocarditis)	May occur in patients with SLE and is associated with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL).
	Acute pericarditis	Sharp, stabbing chest pain with a sudden start Positional pain that decreases when sitting up and leaning forward
	Myocarditis	Tachycardia
	Coronary heart disease	Chest pain Dyspnea Nausea and vomiting
Neurological involvement	Cognitive dysfunction
	Stroke	Speech disturbance Weakness on one-half of the body
	Seizures	Tonic-clonic seizure
	Psychosis	Hallucinations visual Auditory
	Headache
	Neuropathies
Genitourinary	Nephrotic syndrome	Hypertension Peripheral edema Foamy urine Weight gain
Musculoskeletal	Arthritis	Mostly symmetrical Arthralgias Decreased range of motion of both small and large joints Morning stiffness
	Avascular necrosis	Asymptomatic Mild to moderate pain in groin and lower abdomen Secondary pain amplification
	Osteoporosis	Loss of height Sudden back pain
Skin disorder	Cutaneous lupus erythematosus	Malar rash Generalized maculopapular rash Discoid rash Vasculitic lesions Bullous lesions Raynaud's phenomenon Pyoderma gangrenosum Erythema multiforme Nail fold infarcts
	Photosensitivity	common theme for skin lesions associated with SLE
	oral and/or nasal ulcers	usually painless
	Nonscarring alopecia	may occur at some point during the course of their disease

Common initial and chronic complaints are fever, malaise, joint pains, myalgias and fatigue. Because they are so often seen with other diseases, these signs and symptoms are not part of the diagnostic criteria for SLE. When occurring in conjunction with other signs and symptoms, however, they are considered suggestive.

Common Symptoms

• Constitutional symptoms
  • Fatigue
  • Fever
  • Myalgia
  • Muscle tenderness
  • Muscle weakness
  • Weight change
    • Weight gain due to increase in water retention and increase in appetite
    • Weight loss due to medication side effect and gastro-intestinal problems