What is Lupus?
Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system, which normally protects against infection, mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. This can cause inflammation and damage in many different parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain.
Lupus is a complex and unpredictable condition, with periods of flares (when symptoms worsen) and remissions (when symptoms improve or disappear). It affects women far more than men — about 9 out of 10 cases are in women — and tends to develop during the childbearing years (ages 15–45).
What Causes Lupus?
The exact cause of lupus is unknown, but it is thought to result from a combination of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. People with certain gene variants may be more likely to develop lupus, particularly when triggered by something in their environment such as sunlight, infections, or medications.
Common Symptoms
- A butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose (malar rash)
- Extreme fatigue
- Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
- Sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity)
- Skin rashes
- Fever
- Hair loss
- Mouth ulcers
- Chest pain when breathing deeply
- Kidney problems
- Depression and anxiety
Diagnosis
Diagnosing lupus can be challenging because its symptoms mimic many other conditions. Doctors use a combination of physical examination, blood tests, urine tests, and sometimes biopsies to reach a diagnosis. There is no single test that can definitively diagnose lupus.
Treatment
Lupus cannot be cured, but treatment can help control symptoms and prevent flares. Treatment may include:
- Hydroxychloroquine — an antimalarial drug that reduces inflammation
- NSAIDs — for joint pain and fever
- Corticosteroids — to control severe inflammation
- Immunosuppressants — for severe or organ-threatening disease
- Lifestyle measures — avoiding sun exposure, getting adequate rest, and managing stress
Living with Lupus
Living with lupus requires ongoing management and regular medical monitoring. People with lupus should have regular check-ups to monitor organ function, especially kidney health. Sun protection is essential — wearing high-SPF sunscreen and protective clothing can help prevent flares. Many people with lupus lead full and active lives with the right support and treatment.
Who gets lupus in the UK
SLE is much more common in women than men and often starts between the mid-teens and mid-forties. It is also more common, and sometimes more severe, in people of African, Caribbean and South Asian heritage. That matters in UK clinics because delayed diagnosis is still reported when joint pain is put down to "young person's aches" or a facial rash is treated as acne or allergy. Lupus UK and NHS rheumatology teams both stress that early hydroxychloroquine and sun protection change the long-term outlook.
How UK rheumatology usually treats SLE
Almost everyone with SLE is offered hydroxychloroquine unless it is contraindicated. Flares may need a short steroid course. Organ involvement — kidneys, blood, lungs, brain — leads to immunosuppressants such as mycophenolate, azathioprine or methotrexate, and selected people are offered biologics such as belimumab. Treatment is not one-size-fits-all: a skin-and-joint picture is managed differently from lupus nephritis. Regular blood and urine tests are part of staying well, not a sign that something has already gone wrong.