How does lupus affect the brain?

Brain and central nervous system.

If your brain is affected by lupus, you may experience headaches, dizziness, behavior changes, vision problems, and even strokes or seizures. Many people with lupus experience memory problems and may have difficulty expressing their thoughts.

What happens when lupus spreads to the brain?

Symptoms include: Confusion and trouble concentrating (sometimes called lupus brain fog) Seizures (sudden, unusual movements or behavior) Stroke (blocked blood flow in the brain that causes brain cells to die)

Does lupus mess with your mind?

People with lupus can have cognitive symptoms, like having a hard time thinking clearly or remembering things. This is also called “brain fog” or “lupus fog,” and it often comes and goes over time. In some people, lupus fog can be present for many years.

What type of lupus affects the brain?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) may affect any organ of the human body. When lupus affects the brain, spinal cord, or nerves, we call this neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE).

What are the neurological symptoms of lupus?

In addition to headache, lupus can cause other neurological disorders, such as mild cognitive dysfunction, organic brain syndrome, peripheral neuropathies, sensory neuropathy, psychological problems (including personality changes, paranoia, mania, and schizophrenia), seizures, transverse myelitis, and paralysis and ...

My Body Attacked My Brain | Lupus

What are the most severe symptoms of lupus?

What are three triggers of lupus?

An infection, a cold or a viral illness. An injury, particularly traumatic injury. Emotional stress, such as a divorce, illness, death in the family, or other life complications. Anything that causes stress to the body, such as surgery, physical harm, pregnancy, or giving birth.

What is the most serious form of lupus?

What are the different types of lupus? There are several different types of lupus: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common and most serious type of lupus. SLE affects all parts of the body.

Can a brain MRI detect lupus?

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the gold standard technique for studying the brain in lupus (Sarbu et al., 2015c). The neuroimaging findings are classified as small or large vessel disease, and inflammatory-type lesions (Sarbu et al., 2015b).

How do you treat lupus in the brain?

The standard treatment for the non-thrombotic syndromes associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is immunosuppression, first with corticosteroids and with early recourse to cyclophosphamide.

What should you not do if you have lupus?

Can lupus cause anger issues?

People with lupus may experience unpredictable changes in moods and personality traits. This can include feelings of anger and irritability. These may be related to the disease process or, in some cases, the use of corticosteroid medications.

Should I be worried about lupus?

If your symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are mild or well-controlled, you may find it barely affects your day-to-day life and that you do not have any complications. However, for some people, SLE can be a more serious condition that can cause life-threatening complications.

What organ does lupus affect first?

Kidneys About one half of people with lupus experience kidney involvement, and the kidney has become the most extensively studied organ affected by lupus. Lungs About 50% of people with SLE will experience lung involvement during the course of their disease.

What is the most common cause of death in lupus?

Until recently, the most common cause of death in people with lupus was kidney failure. Now, with better therapies, access to dialysis, and the possibility of kidney transplantation, the frequency of death from kidney disease has decreased sharply. However, kidney failure is still fatal in some people with lupus.

Do you see a neurologist for lupus?

A neurologist may be part of your team in order to address the nervous system manifestations of lupus.

What blood tests show lupus?

Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test.

A positive test for the presence of these antibodies — produced by your immune system — indicates a stimulated immune system. While most people with lupus have a positive ANA test, most people with a positive ANA do not have lupus.

Why is it so hard to diagnose lupus?

Lupus is a disease that is known for being difficult to diagnose because the symptoms are different from person to person, they mimic the symptoms of many other diseases, and they can come and go. It can sometimes take several years to receive an official diagnosis.

Can lupus affect the brain and be confused for MS?

They can both cause brain lesions that look similar on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). While the nerves are the primary target of MS, lupus sometimes affects the nerves as well. Both conditions appear to have a genetic element and may occur within families. Both conditions are commonly misdiagnosed at first.

What is the number one symptom of lupus?

The most common lupus symptoms (which are the same for men and women) are: Extreme fatigue (feeling tired all the time) Pain or swelling in the joints. Swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes.

What is the average lifespan of a lupus patient?

With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span.

What is the most effective treatment for lupus?

Steroids Synthetic cortisone medications are some of the most effective treatments for reducing the swelling, warmth, pain, and tenderness associated with the inflammation of lupus. Cortisone usually works quickly to relieve these symptoms.

What are the signs that lupus is getting worse?

What organ is most affected by lupus?

Kidneys. Lupus can cause serious kidney damage, and kidney failure is one of the leading causes of death among people with lupus.

What can make lupus worse?

What can trigger a lupus flare? Emotional stress -- such as a divorce, death in the family, or other life complications -- and anything that causes physical stress to the body -- such as surgery, physical harm, pregnancy, or giving birth -- are examples of triggers that can set off lupus or bring about a lupus flare.