Common Types of Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that happens when the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues and causes harmful inflammation. 

About 1.5 million Americans are living with some form of lupus.

9 out 10 people with lupus are women. 

Common types of lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) 

SLE is the most common type of lupus. When people mention lupus, they usually mean SLE.

In the U.S., SLE is:

3x more common in Black and Native American people

2x times more common in Hispanic people 

SLE can affect many parts of the body, including:

• Heart

• Lungs 

• Skin

• Kidneys

• Joints 

• Brain

Some symptoms of SLE are:

• Fatigue

• Fever

• Joint pain, swelling, or stiffness

• Scaly rash

• Hair loss

• Mouth or nose sores

• Swelling around eyes or in legs

• Foamy urine

• Painful breathing 

• Fingers turning colors in the cold

Kidney inflammation caused by SLE can damage the kidneys, leading to a condition called lupus nephritis.

Cutaneous lupus (CLE)

Happens when the immune system attacks the skin, causing rashes that may be red or scaly.

About 65% of people with SLE will develop CLE. 

Symptoms of CLE include:

• Red, scaly patches that are sometimes round and outlined by a darker red ring

• Butterfly rash (rash across the cheeks and over the bridge of the nose)

Drug-induced lupus

Happens when certain medications trigger an autoimmune disorder similar to SLE. 

Medications most often linked to drug-induced lupus:

• Hydralazine (for high blood pressure)

• Procainamide (for irregular heart rhythm)

• Quinidine (for irregular heart rhythm)

Symptoms of drug-induced lupus are similar to those of SLE. 

• It often takes months or years of using the medication for these symptoms to develop. 

• Symptoms typically go away within 6 months of stopping the medication. 

Neonatal lupus

Happens when a pregnant person passes certain antibodies to the fetus. 

These antibodies attack healthy tissue in the fetus, causing lupus-like symptoms in the newborn.

The most common symptom:

• Skin rash that looks like reddish rings with a normal-colored center

Symptoms usually clear up within a year, but in rare cases, neonatal lupus can affect the baby’s heart, preventing it from beating properly.

• This is called autoimmune congenital heart block. It is a serious condition but is treatable with a pacemaker. 

Shedding light on a complex condition 

Lupus is complicated, but it can be managed. 

For more information about the different types of lupus, talk to your healthcare provider or seek out online resources like those provided by the Lupus Foundation of America. 

Resources

Lupus Foundation of America

This educational resource was created with support from GlaxoSmithKline, Merck and Novartis.