Lupus disease or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own healthy tissue, leaving the body vulnerable to infection and other diseases.
Emotional
Most people affected by SLE are in their 30s or 40s when it strikes. Because SLE can cause extreme fatigue and pain and is difficult to diagnose, patients face depression before, during and after a diagnosis is made.
Family Stress
Living with SLE can place the family in a stressful situation. A person tends to have extreme mood swings; children may be confused by parents' inability to perform simple tasks.
Lupus Nephritis
According to the National Institute on Health, lupus, in some patients, causes deposits of antibodies within the kidneys, resulting in renal failure, and possibly leading to dialysis or kidney transplant.
Myocarditis
Lupus can cause inflammation anywhere in the body; when it strikes the heart, it can potentially be fatal.
Seizures
If lupus attacks the brain, it may cause seizures, leading to stroke-like paralysis and worse.
Serositis
Fluid can develop around the heart and lungs, smothering or drowning the patient from within.
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