Systemic lupus erythematosus. The most common and most serious form of this autoimmune disease. SLE can damage many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, blood vessels, heart, nerves and brain. SLE is chronic, lasting the rest of a person's life, typically with long periods of good health broken up by exacerbations (flares) of the disease. In many patients the disease is mild, with symptoms such as skin rashes and joint pain, but in others there are serious and sometimes deadly complications such as stroke, organ failure or pregnancy complications.
Drug-induced lupus. A condition brought on by longtime use of certain medications. The Lupus Foundation of America states that at least 38 medications are known to cause drug-induced lupus, notably procainamide and quinidine (both for heart rhythm abnormalities) and hydralazine, a vasodilator prescribed for high blood pressure. There is little risk of developing lupus after using other medications, according to the organization. Drug-induced lupus generally goes away when the medication is discontinued.
Discoid (cutaneous) lupus. A chronic condition that generally affects only the skin. It is typically characterized by a red rash, skin that changes color and sores, particularly on the face or scalp. Some patients are especially prone to sores on skin exposed to the sun. Patients may experience permanent scarring and hair loss. About 10 percent of lupus patients have the discoid form, according to the American College of Rheumatology. The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that 10 percent of patients who appear to have discoid lupus will go on to develop SLE and may in fact have had that form all along.
Neonatal lupus. A rare disease that affects newborns, resulting from autoantibodies received from the mother's bloodstream. A rash affects the infant within a few weeks of birth and may last up to six months, and rarely the infant's heart is affected, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.
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