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5 Lupus Facts That Might Save Your Life

Lupus is a complex autoimmune disease that can affect anyone, yet it often goes undiagnosed or misunderstood. This chronic condition causes the immune system to attack healthy tissues, leading to inflammation and damage in various parts of the body. Because lupus symptoms mimic other diseases, many people suffer for years before receiving the right diagnosis. Learning the facts about lupus can mean the difference between early treatment and serious complications that impact quality of life.

Here are five critical facts that could help protect your health — or even save your life.

Lupus can attack any organ in the body

Lupus is not a one-size-fits-all disease. It affects everyone differently, with symptoms that range from mild joint pain to life-threatening organ damage. The condition can impact multiple body systems:

Skin – Rashes, sensitivity to sunlight and discoloration are common. The butterfly-shaped rash across the nose and cheeks is a telltale sign

Joints – Stiffness, swelling and pain often mimic arthritis

Kidneys – Lupus nephritis is a severe complication that can lead to kidney failure

Heart and lungs – Inflammation can cause chest pain, breathing difficulties and an increased risk of cardiovascular disease

Brain and nervous system – Some experience headaches, memory loss and even seizures

Lupus is unpredictable, meaning symptoms can flare up and subside without warning. Recognizing the early signs and seeking medical attention can prevent irreversible damage to vital organs.

It primarily affects women, but men and children are at risk too

Lupus disproportionately affects women, with 90% of cases occurring in females. However, men and children can also develop the disease. The condition is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 44, when the immune system is most active.

Certain racial and ethnic groups face a higher risk, including African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans. These groups not only develop lupus at higher rates but often experience more severe complications. Researchers believe genetic and environmental factors contribute to these disparities, but no single cause has been identified.

Understanding the risk factors can encourage earlier testing and diagnosis, leading to better disease management.

Lupus symptoms often mimic other diseases

One of the biggest challenges in diagnosing lupus is its ability to mimic other illnesses. This leads to delayed diagnoses and misdiagnosed conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, Lyme disease and chronic fatigue syndrome.

Doctors rely on a combination of blood tests, imaging scans and symptom tracking to confirm lupus. However, there is no single test that can provide a definitive diagnosis.

If you've experienced persistent fatigue, joint pain, unexplained fevers or skin rashes, insist on further testing. The sooner lupus is diagnosed, the better the chances of managing symptoms and preventing long-term damage.

Lupus can be life-threatening if left untreated

While some cases of lupus remain mild, the disease can become severe and life-threatening without proper treatment. The most serious complications include:

Kidney failure – Lupus nephritis can permanently damage the kidneys, requiring dialysis or transplant

Heart disease – Inflammation of the heart and blood vessels increases the risk of strokes and heart attacks

Lung disease – Lupus can cause fluid buildup around the lungs, making breathing difficult

Infections – A weakened immune system makes lupus patients more vulnerable to pneumonia, sepsis and other life-threatening infections

Medical advancements have improved lupus survival rates, but early diagnosis and treatment remain critical. With the right medications, lifestyle changes and regular monitoring, most individuals with lupus can lead long and fulfilling lives.

There is no cure, but treatment can help manage symptoms

Despite ongoing research, lupus has no cure. However, advancements in treatment have made it possible for many patients to control their symptoms and reduce flare-ups.

Common treatments include:

Anti-inflammatory medications to help relieve joint pain and swelling

Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation but requiring careful management due to side effects

Immunosuppressants to control the overactive immune response while increasing infection risk

Lifestyle modifications including a balanced diet, stress management and regular exercise

For many, lupus requires lifelong management. Working with a rheumatologist and following a personalized treatment plan is essential to preventing complications.

Taking control of your health

Lupus is unpredictable and can be life-altering, but knowledge is power. Recognizing the warning signs, advocating for early diagnosis and following a treatment plan can make a significant difference.

If you or someone you love is experiencing symptoms of lupus, don't ignore them. Seek medical attention, ask the right questions and take control of your health before complications arise. Understanding lupus could be the key to saving a life — including your own.

This story was created using AI technology.

Lupus And Teenagers

As a teenager, there's a lot you can do to stay on top of your health with lupus. Learning as much as you can about the disease is an important first step.   

What is lupus?

Lupus is a chronic (long-term) disease that can cause inflammation (swelling) and pain in any part of your body. It's an autoimmune disease, meaning that your immune system attacks healthy tissue (tissue is what our organs are made of) and can cause organ damage. The immune system is the part of the body that fights off germs to help you stay healthy.

Who is at risk of developing lupus?

People of all ages, genders, and racial and ethnic groups can develop lupus. But certain groups are at higher risk than others, including:

Women ages 15 to 44

People who are African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, or Pacific Islander

People who have a family member with lupus or another autoimmune disease

In the United States, at least 1.5 million people have lupus — and about 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported each year.  

How will lupus affect my body?

Lupus can affect different people in different ways. For some, it can be mild — for others, it can be life-threatening.

Lupus most commonly affects the skin, joints, and major internal organs — like the kidneys, liver, brain, heart or lungs. Lupus tends to be more aggressive and severe in children and adolescents than in adults. People diagnosed in childhood also are more likely to have higher rates of organ damage than people diagnosed as adults.

What causes lupus?

No one knows what causes lupus, but experts think it develops in response to a combination of factors, including hormones, genetics, and environmental triggers. An environmental trigger is something outside of the body that can bring on lupus symptoms — or make them worse.

Some common triggers of lupus symptoms include:

Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun or fluorescent lights

Infections 

Exhaustion (feeling very tired)

Physical and emotional stress

Low vitamin D

Cigarette smoke, including second-hand smoke

What are the symptoms of lupus?

Because lupus can affect many parts of your body, it can cause a lot of different symptoms.  

Symptoms of lupus may include:

Fatigue (feeling tired often)

Painful or swollen joints

Swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes

Headaches

Low-grade fevers

Sensitivity to sunlight or fluorescent light

Chest pain when breathing deeply

People with lupus may also have problems with the skin and hair, including:

A butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose

Hair loss

Sores in the mouth or nose

Lupus may also cause problems with the blood and blood vessels, like:

Blood clots

Low numbers of red blood cells (anemia)

Fingers and toes turning white or blue and feeling numb when a person is cold or stressed (Raynaud's phenomenon) 

What kinds of doctors treat lupus in teenagers?    

Most teenagers who have lupus will see a pediatric rheumatologist. Pediatric rheumatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating children and teens with autoimmune diseases, like lupus, and diseases in the joints, muscles, bones, and tendons. But because lupus can cause problems anywhere in the body, you'll likely have other kinds of doctors and health care professionals on your treatment team.

How is lupus treated?

While there's no cure for lupus right now, having the right treatment plan can help:

Control symptoms — like joint pain and inflammation

Keep the immune system from attacking healthy tissue

Protect the organs from damage

What medicines treat lupus?

Because lupus can cause a lot of different symptoms, there are many different kinds of medicines that can treat it. A doctor will need to prescribe some of these medicines — others are available over the counter. Some medicines are pills you can take by mouth. Others are fluids that a health care professional puts directly into your bloodstream using a needle or catheter (tube). 

The most common medicines used to treat lupus include:

Anti-inflammatories to help with inflammation and pain

Antimalarials to protect skin from rashes and UV light

Biologics to help the immune system work correctly

Anticoagulants to help prevent blood clots

Immunosuppressives to help keep your immune system from attacking your body

Steroids to help with inflammation

Keep in mind that any medicine you take for lupus can have side effects, and some medicines could put you at risk for life-threatening infections. Talk with your doctor about what changes to watch for with the medicines you're taking. And tell your parents and treatment team right away if you have any side effects.

What can I do to manage (control) my symptoms?

It's important to avoid factors that trigger your lupus symptoms — or make them worse. Remember to:

Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher, and wear sun-protective clothing, like wide-brimmed hats, long sleeves, and pants

Wash your hands often, and avoid people with colds or other contagious illnesses 

Ask for help when you need it

Take a break when you're feeling tired or stressed

Tell an adult when you're not feeling well

How can I develop healthy habits?

You may need to make some changes to your daily routine to manage your symptoms. Start by developing these healthy habits:

Always take your medicines as prescribed

Always attend your health care appointments and follow instructions from your doctors

Eat a healthy diet and be physically active

Get enough sleep — aim for at least 9 hours each night

Take breaks during the day to rest and recover

Stay away from alcohol, drugs, and tobacco

Plan outdoor activities for early in the morning or later in the evening

What can I do to take charge of my health?

There's a lot you can do to learn how to manage lupus and take charge of your own health care. Start with these steps:

Work with your doctors to develop a plan for managing your symptoms

Talk to your doctors and ask them any questions you have about your health

Use a journal to keep track of your medicines and any side effects you notice

Pay attention to how you feel, and share what you notice with your doctors

Share any concerns you have about your treatment with your doctors

Keep a calendar to record appointments and reminders

Stay connected with friends and family, and build a support system

You may need to make some changes in your life because of lupus. But with the help of your family and treatment team, you can learn to live with your symptoms — and keep doing many of the things you want to do.

Adding Anifrolumab Superior To Standard Therapy Alone, Maintains Remission In Lupus

March 19, 2025

2 min read

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Patients on anifrolumab spent more time in remission and low disease activity, and reached those states more quickly, vs. Placebo.

Achieving these states can stave off permanent organ damage.

Adding anifrolumab to standard treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus led to faster achievement of low disease activity and remission, and more time spent in those states, vs. Standard therapy alone, according to data.

"The results reported here are based on the phase 3 clinical trial program for anifrolumab, the interferon type 1 receptor-binding monoclonal antibody that has been approved for the treatment of lupus," Ronald van Vollenhoven, MD, PhD, chair of the department of rheumatology and clinical immunology at the Amsterdam Medical Center, and director of the Amsterdam Rheumatology Center, told Healio.

Data derived from Morand EF, et al. Ann Rheum Dis. 2025;doi:10.1016/j.Ard.2025.01.016.

"In those trials, nicknamed TULIP 1 and 2, and in the continuation trial where patients were kept on the same treatment for an additional 3 years, many of the standard clinical outcomes supported the efficacy of anifrolumab over placebo," he added. "To what extent patients achieved low disease activity or remission was not previously studied in detail and was done here."

To examine the long-term rates of low disease activity and remission among patients with SLE receiving anifrolumab (Saphnelo, AstraZeneca), vs. Placebo, van Vollenhoven and colleagues conducted a post-hoc analysis of data from TULIP 1 and TULIP 2, as well as their extension trial. The researchers included 369 patients with SLE who, in the original TULIP trials, were randomly assigned to receive either 300 mg of anifrolumab intravenously or placebo every 4 weeks in addition to standard therapy. These patients then continued with the same treatment in the 3-year extension.

At the end of the 3-year extension, 36.9% of patients on anifrolumab met LLDAS criteria compared with 17.1% of those on placebo (OR = 2.7; 95% CI, 1.3-5.5), according to the researchers. The DORIS remission rate was also higher among anifrolumab-treated patients, at 30.3% vs. 18.3% with placebo (OR = 1.9; 95% CI, 1-3.9).

Cumulatively, patients who received anifrolumab spent more time in LLDAS (nominal P = .0004) and DORIS remission (nominal P = .0032) compared with placebo. In addition, patients using anifrolumab also demonstrated a faster time to their first attainment of both LLDAS and DORIS. Specifically, half the anifrolumab group acheived LLDAS by 9.9 months vs. 20.2 months in the placebo group. Meanwhile, a quarter of the anifrolumab group achieved DORIS remission by 14.8 months, compared with 20.6 months among those in the placebo group. Less than half of the placebo group ever reached DORIS remission.

Ronald van Vollenhoven

"Both LLDAS and DORIS were achieved more frequently with anifrolumab than with placebo, and the difference was statistically significant in most cases," van Vollenhoven said. "Thus, the efficacy of the medication was supported. However, it was also noted that the absolute number of patients who achieved these important therapeutic goals was not very high."

At the end of the study, 58 of 194 patients who received anifrolumab were in DORIS remission, while 67 were in LLDAS.

"Perhaps some would have expected even better results for low disease activity and remission, but the reality of treating lupus in this refractory group is that there still remains a considerable unmet need," van Vollenhoven added. "For the longer-term future, perhaps combining novel therapies will bring additional hope for patients with lupus."

Sources/DisclosuresCollapse Disclosures: This study was funded by AstraZeneca. Van Vollenhoven reports grant support to his institution from Bristol Myers Squibb; support for educational programs to his institution from AstraZeneca, Galapagos, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, and UCB; consulting fees from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Biogen, Bristol Myers Squibb, Galapagos, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Pfizer, RemeGen, and UCB; and speaking fees from AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Bristol Myers Squibb, Galapagos, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Pfizer, and UCB. Please see the study for all other authors' relevant financial disclosures.

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