Featuring Dr. John Watterson, MD, FRCPC

Duration: 1 minute, 25 seconds

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a disease involving the entire body.  

Any organ system can be involved. The most common are joints, skin, kidneys. As well, patients with lupus can present with constitutional symptoms of weight loss, sometimes even fevers, night sweats, just generally feeling unwell.  

The specific organ manifestations that we see with individuals with lupus include an inflammatory arthritis, very similar to rheumatoid arthritis with some very different characteristics. The other key manifestation of systemic lupus is skin rash.  

Individuals will complain of skin rash, often on exposure to sun, even sunlight through a window where UV radiation can penetrate. 

Systemic lupus erythematosus is characterized by inflammation of many organ systems. The treatment algorithm is based upon the assessment by an expert in the field of lupus, whereby what organ systems are involved and the severity of those organ systems' involvement delineates how we treat it.  

It is treatable, but it needs to be recognized. So the most important thing is that, if you feel you may have systemic lupus erythematosus and are developing symptoms or signs suggesting that, that you seek medical attention.

Presenter: Dr. John Watterson, Rheumatologist, Victoria, BC

Local Practitioners: Rheumatologist