Since they are both autoimmune disorders in which the body turns inwardly and causes damage, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are often mistaken for the other. So, where do you draw the line?

Experts agree that it’s almost impossible to diagnose these disorders because the clinical symptoms and laboratory abnormalities tend to overlap.

Both of affect women much more frequently than men. They are also both multisystem diseases, meaning, they can affect many organs. Like lupus, rheumatoid arthritis targets and causes damage to the blood vessels. Both diseases disrupt the normal function of the immune system, resulting in damaged tissues.

Lupus or systemic lupus erythematosus, is a complex disease whose cause is still undetermined. It can affect many parts of the body including joints, skin, and internal organs. Most often, the person develops a rash in the shape of a butterfly on the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose. Other symptoms include fatigue, hair loss, inflammation of the kidney, mouth sores, sensitivity to light, fever, and weight loss.

Like lupus, the cause of rheumatoid arthritis is unknown. It usually affects the wrists, fingers, knees, feet, and ankles. The disease usually starts to manifest itself with fatigue and weakness, morning stiffness that lasts for more than an hour, widespread muscle aches, and loss of appetite.

People afflicted with lupus usually feels pain in the joints, but this pain is not associated with actual damage to the join itself. In some cases, there is also swelling, but majority of lupus sufferers experience pain in the joints without swelling. In rheumatoid arthritis, however, swelling is always present. This swollen lining is called the synovium. Lupus sufferers experience more pronounced pain than do rheumatoid arthritis patients.

Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis may be experienced by one person at the same time. When rheumatoid-like symptoms are felt by lupus patients, including deformities of the joint, he or she should be given medicines for people with rheumatoid arthritis. Standard RA treatments like methotrexate,sulfalazine, and, in some cases, more potent to control joint inflammation.

Learn more about Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis and more Rheumatoid Arthritis Symptoms at anaudlife.com