Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Lupus is a type of autoimmune disease (in which the immune system attacks the body’s own tissues). In lupus, the immune system attacks the connective tissue. This is the material that supports, connects, or binds other tissues or organs and it occurs throughout the body—in the skin, joints, internal organs, and walls of blood vessels, for example.
The most common type of lupus is discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), which affects only exposed areas of skin, such as the face, scalp, and behind the ears.
A more serious form, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), can affect many tissues and organs, including the skin.
In both types, symptoms subside and then recur with varying severity. In DLE, a red, itchy, scaly rash develops. Exposure to sunlight tends to trigger onset of the rash or make an existing rash worse.
The rash may leave scars or, if it occurs on the scalp, bald patches. SLE can cause a wide variety of symptoms, depending on which parts of the body are affected.
A common symptom is a butterfly-shaped rash on the face; other symptoms may include joint pain, fever, fatigue, weight loss, and mouth ulcers. There may also be other problems, such as anemia; kidney failure; inflammation of the membranes around the lungs or the membrane around the heart; and, if the nervous system is affected, headaches, blurred vision, and strokes. There is no cure for either type of lupus, but medication can usually control symptoms

Othere related diseases

LUPUS
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) Lupus is a type of autoimmune disease (in which the immune system attacks the body’s own ...

LYMPHADENOPATHY
Swollen lymph nodes Lymphadenopathy is an enlargement of the lymph nodes (sometimes called glands), usually due to an infection or to the proliferation of white...

LYMPHANGITIS
This is an inflammation of lymphatic vessels due to the spread of bacteria from the site of an infection, usually an infected wound. The condition typically aff...

LYMPHEDEMA
In lymphedema, fluid accumulates in the lymphatic vessels, resulting in the painless swelling of a limb. There are various possible causes, including obstructio...

LYMPHOMA
Lymphomas are cancers that develop when lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell) multiply and form tumors in the lymphatic system. They may also spread to other...

MESENTERIC ADENITIS
In mesenteric adenitis, the lymph nodes in the mesentery (the membrane that anchors organs to the abdominal wall) become inflamed. The condition most commonly a...

NOSE BLEED
Nosebleeds often occur in dry or cold conditions, when the lining of the nose becomes dry and cracked, causing bleeding. They are also commonly caused by blowin...

POLYMYALGIA RHEUMATICA
Polymyalgia rheumatica is an inflammatory disorder that mainly affects muscles of the hips, thighs, shoulders, and neck, causing pain, stiffness, and inflammati...