What is lupus?
A person with lupus has inflammation of various tissues throughout the body, including the skin, joints, blood vessels, kidneys, and other organs. The immune system, which normally fights infection, mistakenly attacks normal tissue in the body. This causes inflammation and damage to the tissue. About 1.5 million people in the US have lupus. There is no known cure for lupus, but treatment can reduce the symptoms greatly.

What are the symptoms of lupus?
Symptoms of lupus include a facial butterfly-shaped rash, joint swelling, joint pain, muscle aches, eye pain, eye redness, fever, fatigue, hair loss, chest pain, and weight loss. Symptoms of lupus tend to come and go. They may start suddenly or develop slowly.

How does the doctor treat lupus?
Treatment for lupus may include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroids, and other medications that suppress the immune system.