Patient/caregiver were instructed on signs and symptoms of lupus as follows:
- In individuals with lupus, the immune system mistakenly & repeatedly attacks one’s own body tissues and organs, resulting in a lupus cascade and compromised function of involved organs.
- Lupus can vary widely among individuals with respect to the factors triggering the lupus response, organs involved, and extent of organ involvement.
- This variation in organs involved and extent of involvement contributes to the difference in presenting symptoms and their severity.
- Individuals with an activation of lupus can present with the following symptoms:
- Inflammatory damage to the lungs and lining around can result in difficulty breathing, and episodes of chest pain.
- Inflammatory damage to the kidneys and renal structures can result in episodes of abdominal discomfort and loin pain.
- Inflammatory damage to the brain and spinal cord structures can result in episodes of headaches, dizziness, confusion, back pain, and neuropathy.
- Inflammatory damage to the blood vessels and nervous structures can result in increased risk for episodes of internal bleeding, narrowing of blood vessels, compromised blood circulation to essential organs, formation of blood clots, decreased or altered sensation, etc.,
