Complications of lupus

Lung problems

About half of people with lupus develop lung inflammation and other complications.Various parts of the lungs can be affected, sometimes causing no symptoms, and at other times causing painful breathing, coughing, or chest pain that is worse with a deep breath (pleurisy). Many people with lupus have chest pain when they breathe. When this pain is not caused by pleurisy, it is commonly caused by inflammation of the chest muscle, cartilage, or ligaments, or of the joints that connect the ribs to the breastbone (costochondral joints). In these cases, the lungs are not affected.

Less common lung problems associated with lupus include fever, cough, and inflammation of the lung tissue (acute lupus pneumonitis). About 25% of people with lupus produce an antibody that causes their blood to clot more easily; these people may be at risk of clots developing in the lung (pulmonary emboli). An unusual complication is buildup of fluid in the lungs (pulmonary edema), caused by heart or kidney problems.

Blood-related problems

Blood-related problems are common in people who have lupus, but they do not always cause detectable symptoms. These problems, which in a few cases are severe and even life-threatening, include:

• Changes in red blood cells, which carry oxygen; white blood cells, which fight infection; and platelets, which help the blood clot.
• Anemia caused by the destruction of red blood cells (hemolytic anemia) or low platelet count (thrombocytopenia). Anemia can be caused by both lupus and the medications used to treat it.
• Changes in organs related to circulation, such as the spleen or lymph nodes.
• Production of antibodies that attack certain blood-clotting factors, causing the blood to clot easily. These antibodies are produced by about 25% of people with lupus.⁷ They cause a condition, called antiphospholipid antibody syndrome, which can lead to mild or severe blood-clotting complications.

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