Lupus

It is important to see a rheumatologist if you or a family member has been diagnosed with lupus or if you have lupus symptoms. UMass Memorial Health rheumatologists have deep expertise in diagnosing and treating lupus.

What Is Lupus?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks your healthy cells and tissues. It can cause inflammation and damage to organs and body systems. Lupus, also known as systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE, is a long-term disease that can affect various parts of the body.

The disease can be hard to diagnose because there is a variety of symptoms and so many areas of your body where it can appear. Common symptoms include:

• Fatigue
• Swelling or pain in muscles and joints
• Skin rash, often on the face in the shape of a butterfly
• Fever
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores