At Another Johns Hopkins Member Hospital. In addition, some medications used to treat lupus can interfere with birth control pills. As many as 10 percent of people with lupus also have Sjögren’s syndrome, a chronic autoimmune disorder characterized by dry eyes and dry mouth. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disorder which primarily affects women (10:1 female to male ratio), may affect virtually any organ.1 Predominant manifestations include non-deforming arthritis, serositis, photosensitivity, renal, haematological, and central nervous system involvement. (It is actually the number one cause of death around the world.) Among young black and Hispanic women ages 15-34, lupus is the 5th and 6th leading cause of death just behind cancer, heart disease and HIV. It can lead to pregnancy complications and even miscarriage. This abnormal activity leads to tissue damage and illness. Some people who have lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE) develop complications with internal organs, such as the kidney, heart or lungs. Kidneys. General Information | Self-Checker | Donate and Lend Support | Staff Appreciation | Get Email Alerts. Kidney lupus can flare during pregnancy. Lupus complications affect different body organs. You may also find your SLE symptoms significantly improve with age. A lupus flare refers to a period during which the disease is actively producing symptoms. There are several complications related to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its treatments you should be aware of: Hip destruction (also called avascular necrosis). We continue to provide in-person care and telemedicine appointments. There are several complications related to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its treatments you should be aware of. Dry eye syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca) is the most common ocular feature of SLE (around a third of patients) and is often associated with secondary Sjögren's syndrome [ 7, 8 ]. SLE can cause fatigue and fever. Learn about some of the common complications, including kidney failure. Usually, symptoms are relatively mild (irritation, redness) but severe pain and visual loss may occur. Overview of lupus nephritis, a type of kidney disease caused by systemic lupus erythematosus, its complications, and how doctors diagnose and treat the disease. Pregnant women with SLE are considered high-risk pregnancies and require close observation during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period. Brain and central nervous system. Learn more about what lupus complications are. Lupus complications If your symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are mild or well-controlled, you may find that the condition barely affects your day-to-day life, and you may not experience any complications. If lupus is uncontrolled, the kidneys may become damaged. Symptoms vary between people and may be mild to severe. How can systemic lupus erythematosus affect pregnancy and the newborn? Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Lupus nephritis is one of the most serious complications of lupus. Lupus can affect the brain, too. If your brain is affected by lupus, you may experience headaches, dizziness, behavior changes, vision problems, and even strokes or seizures. Complications of the LungsPatients who are suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus tend to develop lung complications in almost 60% of all cases. SLE is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs. These syndromes can precede other symptoms of SLE or may occur at any point during the course of the disease, thus, the clinical presentation is extremely variable 2-7. 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