Hi, thank you for your question. Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks tissues in your body and leads to many issues. SLE can affect any parts of the body. You will develop lupus arthritis if your immune system attacks your joints. It is a common problem in people with SLE. Around 95% of SLE patients experience some form of joint pain at some point during the course of their disease.

Polyarthritis (arthritis affecting more than 5 joints) and polyarthralgia (arthralgias affecting 5 or more joints) are commonly seen in people with SLE. More than 50% of SLE patients already have this issue at the time of initial diagnosis.

Lupus arthritis affects joints in a symmetrical pattern (affects the same joints on either side of the body) and can affect both small joints (wrists, hands and feet) and large joints (shoulders and knees). It does not cause erosion of the bone, but Jaccoud’s arhtropathy (deformation of the fingers due to inflammation of joint capsule and subsequent fibrotic retraction) may happen.

Other symptoms of lupus arthritis include morning stiffness and joint effusion (accumulation of fluid in the joints). However, be careful if you develop pain in the groin and if you are taking steroids, because this may indicate osteonecrosis (blood supply is disrupted and cause death of bone cells).

Joint pain in lupus arthritis can improve with the help of medications, such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS) and antimalarial drugs. Examples of NSAIDS include ibuprofen and naproxen. Antimalarial drugs like Plaquenil should be taken daily. Severe cases if lupus arthritis may need steroids or immunosupressants like methotrexate.
Lupus arthritis can last from days to weeks, but there are also cases where it can be permanent.

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