What are the early symptoms of lupus erythematosus

As an immune disease, lupus erythematosus has obvious symptoms because antibodies cause great damage to the body. Generally, there will be systemic symptoms, erythematous rash, and fever.

Systemic symptoms

1. Erythematous rash

It is diverse. Butterfly-shaped erythema on the zygomatic and facial areas and edematous erythema around the nails and fingertips are characteristic manifestations of SLE. The shapes include discoid erythema, annular erythema, edematous erythema, erythema multiforme, etc. There are red papules and maculopapules, which are generally non-itchy or slightly itchy and can occur in multiple parts of the body. Photosensitivity: about 1/3 of patients experience facial redness or sun allergic rash when exposed to sunlight.

2. Fever

High fever, moderate fever, low fever, etc. may all occur. High fever is mostly characterized by retained fever. Long-term fever may present with irregular fever, or alternating high and low fever.

Early symptoms of lupus erythematosus

Skin symptoms

1. Mucosal ulcers and hair loss Mucosal damage involves the lips, tongue, cheeks, etc., and painless mucosal ulcers appear; the hair loses its luster, becomes dry, brittle, and sparse, which is called "lupus hair."

2. Raynaud's phenomenon

Both hands and feet appear symmetrically in the order of whitening, cyanosis, and flushing. It is triggered by cold and often occurs in winter.

3. Arthritis

It is often joint pain and muscle pain, which is migratory and symmetrical. Joint pain may occur several years before the onset of the disease, with swelling, tenderness and effusion of the soft tissue around the joints. The most common affected areas are the proximal knuckles, metacarpophalangeal joints, wrists, elbows, knees, and toe joints.

4. Vasculitis

Large petechiae may appear on the hands and feet. Depression, ulceration, and necrosis of the fingertips and toes. Rarely, it can cause dorsalis pedis artery occlusive vasculitis, accompanied by severe pain. Livedo reticularis and flaky purpuric macules may appear on both legs.