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Everything To Know About Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which your immune system mistakenly damages healthy cells in your body. Types include rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, and some thyroid conditions.

Your immune system usually protects you from diseases and infections. When it senses these pathogens, it creates specific cells to target foreign cells.

Usually, your immune system can tell the difference between foreign cells and your cells.

But if you have an autoimmune disease, your immune system mistakes parts of your body, such as your joints or skin, as foreign. It releases proteins called autoantibodies that attack healthy cells.

Some autoimmune diseases target only one organ. Type 1 diabetes damages your pancreas. Other conditions, such as systemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus, can affect your whole body.

Below we provide an overview of some of the most common autoimmune diseases.

Doctors don't know exactly what causes the immune system to misfire. Yet some people are more likely to get an autoimmune disease than others.

Some factors that may increase your risk of developing an autoimmune disease can include:

Your sex: People assigned female at birth between the age of 15 and 44 are more likely to get an autoimmune disease than people assigned male at birth.

Your family history: You may be more likely to develop autoimmune diseases due to inherited genes, though environmental factors may also contribute.

Environmental factors: Exposure to sunlight, mercury, chemicals like solvents or those used in agriculture, cigarette smoke, or certain bacterial and viral infections, including COVID-19, may increase your risk of autoimmune disease.

Ethnicity: Some autoimmune diseases are more common in people in certain groups. For example, White people from Europe and the United States may be more likely to develop autoimmune muscle disease, while lupus tends to occur more in people who are African American, Hispanic, or Latino.

Nutrition: Your diet and nutrients may impact the risk and severity of autoimmune disease.

Other health conditions: Certain health conditions, including obesity and other autoimmune diseases, may make you more likely to develop an autoimmune disease.

Different autoimmune diseases may have similar early symptoms. These can include:

With some autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis or rheumatoid arthritis (RA), symptoms may come and go. A period of symptoms is called a flare up. A period when the symptoms go away is called remission.

Individual autoimmune diseases can also have their own unique symptoms depending on the body systems affected. For example, with type 1 diabetes, you may experience extreme thirst and weight loss. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) may cause bloating and diarrhea.

Researchers have identified more than 100 autoimmune diseases. Here are 14 more common ones.

1. Type 1 diabetes

Your pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar levels. In type 1 diabetes, the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells in your pancreas.

High blood sugar from type 1 diabetes can damage the blood vessels and organs. This can include your:

heart

kidneys

eyes

nerves

2. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)

In RA, your immune system attacks the joints. This causes symptoms affecting the joints such as:

swelling

warmth

soreness

stiffness

While RA more commonly affects people as they get older, it can also start as early as your 30s. A related condition, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, can start in childhood.

3. Psoriasis/psoriatic arthritis

Skin cells grow and then shed when they're no longer needed. Psoriasis causes skin cells to multiply too quickly. The extra cells build up and form inflamed patches. On lighter skin tones, patches may appear red with silver-white scales of plaque. On darker skin tones, psoriasis may appear purplish or dark brown with gray scales.

Up to 30% of people with psoriasis also develop psoriatic arthritis. This can cause joint symptoms that include:

4. Multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) damages the protective coating surrounding nerve cells (myelin sheath) in your central nervous system. Damage to the myelin sheath slows the transmission speed of messages between your brain and spinal cord to and from the rest of your body.

This damage can lead to:

numbness

weakness

balance issues

trouble walking

Different forms of MS progress at different rates. Difficulties with walking are one of the most common mobility issues with MS.

5. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Although doctors in the 1800s first described lupus as a skin disease because of the rash it commonly produces, the systemic form, which is most common, actually affects many organs. This can include your:

joints

kidneys

brain

heart

Common symptoms can include:

joint pain

fatigue

rashes

6. Inflammatory bowel disease

IBD describes conditions that cause inflammation in the lining of the intestinal wall. Each type of IBD affects a different part of your gastrointestinal (GI) tract.

Common symptoms of IBD can include:

diarrhea

abdominal pain

bleeding ulcers

7. Addison's disease

Addison's disease affects the adrenal glands, which produce the hormones cortisol and aldosterone as well as androgen hormones. Too little cortisol can affect how your body uses and stores carbohydrates and sugar (glucose). Too little aldosterone can lead to sodium loss and excess potassium in your bloodstream.

Common symptoms of Addison's disease can include:

weakness

fatigue

weight loss

low blood sugar

8. Graves' disease

Graves' disease attacks the thyroid gland in your neck, causing it to produce too much of its hormones. Thyroid hormones control the body's energy usage, known as metabolism.

Having too much of these hormones revs up your body's activities, causing symptoms that may include:

Some people with Graves' disease may also experience symptoms affecting the skin (Graves' dermopathy) or eyes (Graves' ophthalmopathy).

9. Sjögren's disease

This condition attacks the glands that provide lubrication to your eyes and mouth.

The hallmark symptoms of Sjögren's disease are dry eyes and dry mouth, but it may also affect your joints or skin.

10. Hashimoto's thyroiditis

In Hashimoto's thyroiditis, thyroid hormone production slows to a deficiency. Common symptoms of Hashimoto's thyroiditis can include:

11. Myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis affects nerve impulses that help the brain control muscles. When the communication from nerves to muscles is impaired, signals can't direct the muscles to contract.

The most common symptom is muscle weakness. It may worsen with activity and improve with rest. Muscle weakness can also affect:

eye movements

opening and closing eyes

swallowing

facial movements

12. Celiac disease

People with celiac disease can't eat foods containing gluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, and other grain products. When gluten is in the small intestine, the immune system attacks this part of the GI tract and causes inflammation.

People with celiac disease may experience digestive issues after consuming gluten. Symptoms can include:

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, celiac disease affects about 1% of people in the world.

13. Autoimmune vasculitis

Autoimmune vasculitis happens when your immune system attacks blood vessels. The inflammation that results narrows your arteries and veins, allowing less blood to flow through them.

14. Pernicious anemia

Pernicious anemia may happen when an autoimmune disorder causes your body to not produce enough of a substance called intrinsic factor. Having a deficiency in this substance reduces the amount of vitamin B12 your small intestine absorbs from food. It can cause a low red blood cell count.

Without enough of this vitamin, you'll develop anemia, and your body's ability for proper DNA synthesis will be altered.

It can cause symptoms that include:

This rare autoimmune disease typically occurs in people ages 60 to 70 and older.

How are autoimmune diseases treated?

Treatments can't cure autoimmune diseases, but they can control the overactive immune response and bring down inflammation — or at least reduce pain and inflammation.

Drugs used to treat these conditions include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), naproxen (Naprosyn), and immunosuppressant drugs.

Other treatments may relieve specific symptoms, such as fatigue.

Eating a well-balanced or anti-inflammatory diet and getting regular exercise may also help you feel better.

What are 5 common symptoms of an autoimmune disorder?

The most common autoimmune diseases are psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, connective tissue diseases, multiple sclerosis, autoimmune thyroid diseases such as Hashimoto's, celiac disease, and inflammatory bowel disease. They all have a variety of different symptoms.

How do you know if you have an autoimmune disease?

Different autoimmune diseases can have different symptoms. No single test can diagnose most autoimmune diseases. A doctor will order tests, review your symptoms, and conduct a physical examination to reach a diagnosis.

Doctors often use the antinuclear antibody test when your symptoms indicate an autoimmune disease. A positive test means you may have one of these diseases, but it won't confirm exactly which one you have or if you have one for sure.

Other tests look for specific autoantibodies produced in certain autoimmune diseases. A doctor may also order nonspecific tests to check for the inflammation these diseases produce in the body.

What triggers autoimmune diseases?

Different autoimmune diseases have different triggers. These could be genetic or environmental.

The symptoms of autoimmune diseases often overlap, complicating diagnoses.

Blood tests that look for autoantibodies can help doctors diagnose these conditions. Treatments include medications to calm the overactive immune response and bring down inflammation in the body.

The Healthline FindCare tool can provide options in your area if you need help finding a specialist.

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What Is Myasthenia Gravis?

Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder that disrupts communication between nerve cells and muscles. It can cause muscle weakness and other symptoms depending on the affected areas.

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a neuromuscular disorder that causes weakness in the skeletal muscles, which are the muscles your body uses for movement.

MG happens when communication between nerve cells and muscles becomes impaired. This impairment prevents crucial muscle contractions from occurring, causing muscle weakness.

According to the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation of America, more than 70,000 people in the United States have received a diagnosis of myasthenia gravis.

Learn more about the symptoms and causes of MG and what treatment options are available for this neuromuscular disorder.

The main symptom of MG is weakness in the voluntary skeletal muscles, which are muscles under your control.

Muscles typically fail to contract if they can't respond to nerve impulses. When communication between nerve and muscle is blocked, weakness results. The degree of weakness can change daily, and symptom severity typically increases over time if left untreated.

Weakness associated with MG usually gets worse with activity and improves with rest.

People with MG may experience different symptoms affecting different parts of the body, such as:

Eyes

When affecting the eyes, MG can cause:

drooping eyelids (ptosis)

blurry or double vision (diplopia)

issues with eye and eyelid movement

Face

MG can affect your control of your facial muscles. This can cause:

Throat

When MG affects the muscles of the throat, you may experience:

difficulty speaking (dysarthria)

issues with swallowing

difficulty swallowing or chewing

hoarse voice

neck weakness, which can make it difficult to hold up your head

Chest

When MG affects the muscles of the chest area, you may experience

This can lead to myasthenic crisis and respiratory failure.

A myasthenic crisis is life threatening and requires emergency medical treatment.

Arms and legs

MG can also affect muscles in your arms and legs, which may cause:

fatigue

weakness in your fingers, hands, and arms

overall weakness in your legs

problems walking up stairs or lifting objects

MG may be triggered by a combination of irregular antibodies or problems with the thymus gland, according to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA).

The causes and risk factors can include:

An autoimmune reaction

Autoimmune disorders occur when your immune system mistakenly targets healthy tissue. In MG, these antibodies, which usually target harmful substances in the body, instead damage nerve cells.

The antibodies block or attack acetylcholine receptors, which makes muscles unable to respond to acetylcholine and contract. This results in muscle weakness.

The exact cause of this autoimmune reaction is unclear. The MDA suggests specific viral or bacterial proteins may prompt the body to target acetylcholine.

A family history of autoimmune diseases may increase your risk of developing an autoimmune disorder like MG.

Thymus gland irregularities

The thymus gland typically grows until puberty and controls healthy immune functions throughout your life. After puberty, the gland shrinks in size.

In many people with MG, the thymus gland stays large.

Developing benign or cancerous thymus gland tumors is also possible, which may interfere with crucial immune cell production. The enlarged thymus gland also produces antibodies that block acetylcholine.

About 75% of people with MG have thymus gland irregularities (thymic hyperplasia), and another 15% have tumors.

As a result, the thymus gland may give your immune system incorrect instructions, which researchers believe may lead to immune cell destruction that causes MG.

Age

While MG may develop at any age, the NINDS notes that females are more likely to receive a diagnosis before age 40, whereas males are more likely to receive one at 60 or older.

About 10-15% of MG cases develop in childhood.

It's also possible for newborn babies to have a temporary condition called neonatal myasthenia. This occurs when the mother has MG and passes the antibodies to a fetus. However, neonatal myasthenia is different from MG. It is temporary, lasting about 2-3 months post-delivery.

A doctor typically performs a complete physical exam and takes a detailed history of your symptoms. They'll also do a neurological exam.

This may consist of:

checking your reflexes

looking for muscle weakness

checking for muscle tone

seeing how your eyes move

testing sensation in different areas of your body

testing motor functions, like touching your finger to your nose

Other tests that can help diagnose the condition include:

repetitive nerve stimulation and single-fiber EMG tests

blood testing for antibodies associated with MG

an edrophonium (Tensilon) test

imaging using CT scans or MRI to rule out a tumor

You may want to talk with a doctor if you have unusual symptoms affecting your eyes, face, throat, or overall body movements. You should be especially aware of possible MG symptoms if you're an older adult with a personal or family history of autoimmune disorders.

If you have MG, you may go into remission, or a period where your symptoms may get better or go away. However, since remission may be temporary, it's important to keep track of your symptoms and talk with a doctor if they return.

There is currently no cure for MG. Treatment involves managing symptoms and controlling the activity of your immune system. Treatment options can include:

Medication

Medications can help reduce muscle weakness or prevent progression of the disease. These can include:

corticosteroids and immunosuppressants can help suppress the body's irregular immune response

cholinesterase inhibitors, such as pyridostigmine (Mestinon), can help increase communication between nerves and muscles

monoclonal antibodies, such as eculizumab (Soliris), which can help prevent acetylcholine antibodies from damaging the neuromuscular junction in adults who test positive for the anti-acetylcholine receptor (AchR) antibody

Thymus gland removal

Doctors may recommend removing the thymus gland (thymectomy) in many people with MG. Doctors also recommend surgery to remove thymus gland tumors, even benign ones, as they may become cancerous.

Once the thymus is removed, patients typically show less muscle weakness. Research from 2017 also shows that thymectomy and prednisone may be more effective than taking prednisone alone.

Plasma exchange

Plasmapheresis, or plasma exchange, is a procedure that removes harmful antibodies from the blood, which may result in an improvement in muscle strength.

Plasmapheresis is a short-term treatment. The body continues to produce harmful antibodies, and weakness may recur. Plasma exchange is helpful before surgery or during times of extreme MG weakness.

Intravenous immune globulin

Intravenous immune globulin (IVIG) is an infusion of antibodies from healthy donors. It helps treat MG temporarily by binding to and removing antibodies that cause myasthenia gravis. Like plasmapheresis, the benefits are temporary. Doctors typically recommend it for severe MG symptoms.

Lifestyle changes

Some things you can do at home may help alleviate symptoms of MG include:

Get plenty of rest to help minimize muscle weakness.

If you're bothered by double vision, talk with a doctor about wearing an eye patch.

Avoid stress and heat exposure since both can worsen symptoms.

If a doctor recommends it, regular low impact exercise may help strengthen your muscles.

You may also go into remission, during which treatment is not necessary.

Some medications and supplements can make MG symptoms worse. Before taking any new medication, check with a doctor or pharmacist to ensure it does not interact with your other medications.

Left untreated, MG may lead to complications. These can include:

Myasthenic crisis

One of the most dangerous potential complications of MG is a myasthenic crisis. An estimated 15-20% of people with MG will experience at least one episode of this life threatening complication.

During a myasthenic crisis, you may experience severe muscle weakness that leads to respiratory failure.

You can talk with a doctor about your risk. You may need emergency medical attention if you have trouble breathing or swallowing.

Additional autoimmune disorders

MG may increase your risk of developing other autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. A doctor will likely recommend regular blood testing to help detect these conditions so you can seek early treatment.

What is the life expectancy of a person with myasthenia gravis?

The life expectancy of a person with MG is typically similar to that of a person without MG.

What happens to a person with myasthenia gravis?

A person with MG may experience muscle weakness in some areas of the body. Symptoms, such as double vision or fatigue, can depend on the area of the body affected.

What are the symptoms of myasthenia gravis in the eyes?

When it affects the eyes, MG can cause double vision, blurred vision, and drooping eyelids.

Is myasthenia gravis a form of MS?

While both MG and MS can affect muscle control, they are separate diseases. They both have an autoimmune component, but the specific cause is different.

Learn more about the differences and similarities between MG and MS.

The long-term outlook for MG depends on a lot of factors. Some people will only have mild symptoms, while others may have more severe ones. Remission is also possible.

Early and proper treatment can help limit disease progression and improve quality of life.

What Are Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) And Other Types Of Lupus?

Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue. It can cause a wide range of symptoms throughout the body. Medical treatment and home remedies can help manage it.

According to the Lupus Foundation of America, people report around 16,000 new cases of lupus in the United States each year, and up to 1.5 million people may be living with the condition in the U.S.

Lupus refers to a range of conditions that can cause symptoms throughout the body. It is an autoimmune condition, which means it happens when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy body tissue. Symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common type, and people often use the term lupus to refer to SLE. However, there are other types, depending on which part of the body lupus mainly affects.

In addition to SLE, there are cutaneous lupus (such as discoid lupus erythematosus [DLE]), drug-induced lupus (DIL), and neonatal lupus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus

SLE accounts for 70% of lupus cases. It affects multiple organs and systems throughout the body. For this reason, SLE tends to be a more severe form of lupus. The symptoms can range from mild to severe.

SLE can cause inflammation in the:

skin

joints

lungs

kidneys

blood

heart

This inflammation may happen in one of these areas or affect multiple areas at one time.

Discoid lupus erythematosus

In DLE, a type of cutaneous lupus, symptoms affect only the skin. DLE appears as circular lesions, typically on the scalp and face, although they can appear on other parts of the body, such as inside the ears.

The lesions tend to be red and may become thick and scaly. In some cases, the lesions lead to scarring and skin discoloration. If lesions scar on the scalp, hair may not regrow in that area.

DLE does not affect the internal organs, but around 10% of people with DLE go on to develop SLE, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. However, it is possible that these people already had SLE and their skin symptoms led to a DLE diagnosis first.

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus refers to skin lesions that appear on parts of the body that have exposure to the sun. These lesions do not cause scarring but may cause skin discoloration.

Drug-induced lupus

Drug-induced lupus (DIL) results from the long-term use of certain medications. The symptoms tend to be similar to those in SLE but are often less severe.

Over 100 medications have been identified as potential causes of DIL, including:

DIL typically goes away within 6 months of stopping the medication.

Neonatal lupus

Neonatal lupus can affect newborns if their birth parent passes on antibodies for lupus or Sjögren's syndrome through the placenta during pregnancy.

If the birth parent has these antibodies — whether or not they have lupus — there is a 2% an infant will develop neonatal lupus.

At birth, they may have:

a skin rash

liver problems

low blood counts

The skin symptoms usually go away within a few weeks, but some infants may have a congenital heart block, in which the heart cannot regulate a normal and rhythmic pumping action. This is a more serious complication, and the infant may need a pacemaker.

The symptoms of lupus will depend to some extent on the type of lupus.

American College of Rheumatology lists 11 criteria for describing lupus. If a person meets four or more of the criteria, they will consider a diagnosis of lupus.

The 11 criteria are:

Malar rash: A malar rash is a butterfly-shaped rash appears across the cheeks and nose.

Discoid rash: Raised red patches develop on the skin.

Photosensitivity: A skin rash appears after exposure to sunlight.

Oral or nose ulcers: Ulcers appear in a person's mouth or nose.

Nonerosive arthritis: This type of arthritis does not destroy the bones around the joints but does cause tenderness and swelling.

Pericarditis or pleuritis: Inflammation affects the lining around the heart (pericarditis) or lungs (pleuritis).

Kidney disorder: Tests show high levels of protein or cellular casts in the urine if a person has a kidney problem, such as lupus nephritis.

Neurologic disorder: A person may experience seizures, psychosis, or problems with thinking and reasoning.

Hematologic (blood) disorder: Blood may show a low red blood cell count (anemia), a low white blood cell count (leukopenia), or a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia).

Immunologic disorder: Tests show that there are anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, anti-Smith antibodies, or antiphospholipid antibodies (APLs).

Positive ANA: A test detects high levels of ANA.

The symptoms of lupus occur in times of flare-ups. Between flare-ups, people usually experience times of remission, when there are few or no symptoms.

A person with lupus may also experience:

Signs of lupus in females

The symptoms of lupus can vary widely, including between males and females.

Symptoms more commonly seen in females include:

hair loss

sensitivity to sunlight

mouth ulcers

arthritis

malar rash

Signs of lupus in males

Research suggests that, while males are less likely than females to have lupus, the symptoms tend to be more severe.

Symptoms more commonly seen in males include:

cardiovascular complications

low blood count

weight loss

kidney complications

chest pain

Effect on other body systems

Lupus can also cause the following systems, depending on which organs it affects:

Kidneys: Swelling of the legs, feet, and face, frequent urination, and high blood pressure can result from kidney disease.

Lungs:There is a higher risk of lung diseases, such as pleurisy and pneumonia, which can involve chest pain and breathing difficulty.

Central nervous system: Symptoms may include brain fog, headaches, seizures, and strokes. A condition known as lupus cerebritis can cause confusion, difficulty, thinking, mood changes, seizures, lethargy, and coma.

Blood vessels: Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) can affect circulation.

Blood: Lupus can affect blood composition, leading to anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia.

Heart: Inflammation can lead to myocarditis, endocarditis, or pericarditis. Symptoms include chest pain.

Other complications

Other complications that can arise from lupus include:

a higher risk of infections, as both lupus and the treatment can weaken the immune system

bone tissue death and bone fractures, due to the effects of lupus and medication use

pregnancy complications, such as pregnancy loss, preterm birth, and preeclampsia

A doctor may recommend delaying pregnancy until lupus has been under control for at least 6 months.

The following images show how some lupus symptoms can appear.

Lupus is an autoimmune condition, but the exact cause is unclear.

What goes wrong?

The immune system protects the body from pathogens such as bacteria, but sometimes it mistakenly targets healthy tissue. This can cause inflammation, swelling, pain, and tissue damage.

Why does the immune system go wrong?

Researchers do not yet entirely understand what causes lupus, but they believe it is caused by multiple factors.

One possible theory relates to cell death, a natural process that occurs as the body renews its cells. Due to genetic factors, the bodies of people with lupus may not properly clear cells that have died.

The dead cells that remain may lead to the production of autoantibodies, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), that go on to attack the body, causing lupus symptoms.

ANAs are commonly present in people with autoimmune conditions such as lupus. They work by targeting the nucleus of the body's cells. The nucleus contains genetic material.

Risk factors: Hormones, genes, and environment

Lupus may develop in response to several factors. These may be:

hormonal factors as females aged 15–44 years are nine times more likely to have lupus than males

genetic factors, as lupus often runs in families, and scientists have identified certain genes that are common to people with lupus

environmental factors, such as exposure to tobacco smoke or pollution or having the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis

Are children at risk?

According to the American College of Rheumatology, 20% of people with lupus develop the condition before the age of 20, but it rarely appears before the age of 5.

In children, lupus may have more severe symptoms. Up to 50% of children with lupus have kidney symptoms.

Treatment for lupus will depend on the type of lupus. Options include:

protective clothing and sunscreen to shield the skin from sunlight

medication to treat skin and joint symptoms

immunosuppressants, such as mycophenolate or methotrexate, which dampen the action of the immune system

biologic drugs, such as Belimumab

a range of treatments to manage complications such as infections, seizures, skin, or kidney problems

Home remedies

Home remedies and lifestyle measures may help protect body systems and manage some symptoms.

While research is limited some evidence suggests a varied and balanced diet can help manage lupus. A doctor or dietitian can help a person with lupus make a diet plan that suits their needs.

Options may include:

taking omega-3 fatty acids

limiting foods that contain cholesterol and saturated fats

reducing sodium intake

ensuring a sufficient intake of vitamins such as vitamin D and vitamin B

Other lifestyle changes that may help include:

avoiding or quitting smoking

limiting alcohol intake

doing regular, moderate exercise

managing stress

building or keeping up social networks to reduce the risk of social isolation

Diagnosis can be difficult because symptoms of lupus can resemble symptoms of other conditions.

A doctor will ask about symptoms, carry out a physical examination, and take a personal and family medical history. They may also request blood tests and other laboratory investigations.

Biomarkers are antibodies, proteins, genetics, and other factors that can show a doctor what is happening in the body or how the body is responding to treatment. They can help identify whether a person has a condition even when there are no symptoms.

Blood tests

Blood tests can show whether certain biomarkers are present, and biomarkers can give information about which autoimmune disease, if any, a person has.

Antinuclear antibody: Around 95% of people with lupus will have a positive result in the ANA test, although some people test positive for ANA without having lupus.

Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLs): These are present in around 50% of people with lupus, but they can also occur in people without lupus.

Anti-dsDNA antibody test: Around 47% of people with lupus test positive for these antibodies, according to a study involving 1,977 people.

Anti-Smith antibody: People with lupus may have antibodies to Sm, a type of protein.

Anti-U1RNP antibody: Around 25–30% of people with lupus have anti-U1RNP antibodies, and fewer than 1% of people without lupus have them. However, it may be present with other autoimmune conditions.

Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies: These antibodies have been linked to various immune conditions, including SLE.

Antihistone antibodies: Antibodies to histones are proteins that play a role in the structure of DNA. People with DIL or SLE may have them.

Serum (blood) complement test: This test measures the levels of proteins that the body consumes when inflammation takes place. Low levels suggest inflammation is present, and the condition may be active.

Nonspecific tests: Various other tests look for markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.

Further tests may include:

urine tests, which can help identify effects on the kidneys.

tissue biopsies, usually of the skin or kidneys, to check for damage or inflammation.

imaging tests to reveal any organ damage

Here are some questions people often ask about lupus.

What can trigger lupus?

Some possible triggers of lupus include stress, exposure to toxins, such as cigarette smoke or air pollution, and having an infection, such as the Epstein-Barr Virus.

What are the signs of lupus?

The signs and symptoms of lupus vary widely and will depend on the type of lupus. However, skin changes, such as a malar or butterfly rash across the face, may occur. Other common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, and fever.

What is the life expectancy of a person with lupus?

Life expectancy will depend partly on the type of lupus. Statistics suggest that 85–90% of people with SLE will live at least 10 years after their diagnosis, and many will live much longer. DIL usually resolves within a few weeks after stopping the drug that caused the reaction.

Lupus is an autoimmune condition that can affect a wide range of body systems. There are different types of lupus, but SLE is the most common type.

Some people may experience cycles of flare-ups and remissions, whereas others may have ongoing symptoms. The varied experiences of lupus can make it challenging for doctors to diagnose.

Once a person has a diagnosis, various treatment options can help manage symptoms, limit damage to body organs, and maximize a person's quality of life.

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