Lupus
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that cause inflammation, pain and damage in many parts of the body. In lupus, the immune system is unable to distinguish between viruses, bacteria and germs from your body’s healthy tissues. Because of that, the body creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. Lupus tends to impact women more often than in men and it’s estimated at least 1.5 million Americans suffer from lupus.
Lupus can be challenging to diagnose because symptoms can begin quietly. Symptoms can include fever, fatigue, weight loss, blood clots and hair loss around the hairline. They can also include rashes, mouth sores, heart burn and poor circulation. Our rheumatologists will perform a series of blood tests to diagnose lupus.