What are the main signs and symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus?

The signs and symptoms of SLE vary widely depending on the affected tissues, and can come and go or change over time. When SLE symptoms are active, it is often called a “disease flare”; and when symptoms are inactive, SLE is “in remission”. Disease flares can be very different both within and across people with SLE.

Common systemic symptoms include extreme fatigue, fever, body weight changes, and body aches/pain (including headaches). Most other symptoms are specific to the involved organ system. These include joint pain and arthritis; skin and hair conditions, such as sensitivity to sunlight, rashes (e.g., the facial “butterfly rash”), hair loss, oral/nasal ulcers, and lesions; cardiovascular diseases, like pericarditis, vasculitis, Raynaud’s disease, and blood clots; kidney manifestations, especially nephritis; gastrointestinal issues, such as heartburn/regurgitation, nausea, pancreatitis, and peptic ulcer disease; pulmonary conditions, like pleuritis; neuropsychiatric involvement, ranging from cognitive dysfunction and psychosis to seizures and strokes; hematologic (blood) abnormalities, like leukopenia and anemia; and eye conditions, mainly dry eyes.^[1]