The symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) can vary from person to person. Some people with the condition may only experience a few mild symptoms, whereas others may be more severely affected.
The symptoms of SLE can also appear in "flare-ups". This means that although you may always have mild symptoms, during a flare-up your symptoms may become more severe.
Primary symptoms
The three primary symptoms of SLE are:
- fatigue
- joint pain
- skin rashes
These are described in more detail below.
Fatigue
Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of SLE. You may feel very tired even though you get plenty of sleep. Carrying out everyday tasks, such as household chores or office work, can leave you feeling exhausted.
Many people with SLE have reported that fatigue is the most distressing and disruptive aspect of SLE because it has a negative impact on their work and social life.
Joint pain
If you have SLE, you are most likely to experience joint pain in your hands and feet. You may find that the pain changes from one set of joints to another quite quickly. However, unlike some other conditions that affect the joints, SLE is unlikely to cause your joints to become permanently damaged or deformed.
Skin rashes
In people with SLE, skin rashes most commonly develop on the face, wrists and hands. A rash over the cheeks and the bridge of the nose is particularly common and is known as a "butterfly rash". Skin rashes that are caused by SLE may be permanent and can be made worse with exposure to sunlight. This is known as photosensitivity.
Other symptoms
As well as the primary symptoms listed above, SLE can also cause a number of other symptoms. However, if you have SLE it is unlikely that you will have all of the symptoms listed below, and many people with the condition will only experience the primary symptoms.
Other symptoms of SLE may include:
- high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above
- swollen lymph glands (small, bean-shaped glands that are found throughout your body, including in your neck, armpits and groin)
- recurring mouth ulcers
- hair loss (alopecia)
- high blood pressure (hypertension)
- depression
- dry eyes
- memory loss
- migraine
- anaemia – a condition where a lack of red, oxygen-carrying blood cells can cause fatigue and shortness of breath
- Raynaud's phenomenon – a condition that limits the blood supply to your hands and feet when it is cold
