Can lupus cause petechiae?

Approximately 15% of people with lupus will experience purpura (small red or purple discolorations caused by leaking of blood vessels just underneath the skin) during the course of the disease. Small purpura spots are called petechiae, and larger spots are called eccymoses.

Does lupus cause low platelet count?

Although there are many possible causes of thrombocytopenia, in lupus it is almost always due to antibodies. A low platelet count may briefly be aggravated by infection. Whereas thrombocytopenia is common in lupus, only occasionally does serious bleeding result.

What autoimmune disease causes petechiae?

Other skin problems that may occur in SLE include calcium deposits under the skin (calcinosis), damaged blood vessels (vasculitis) in the skin, and tiny red spots called petechiae. Petechiae are caused by a shortage of cells involved in clotting (platelets), which leads to bleeding under the skin.

What autoimmune diseases cause low platelet count?

What is ITP? Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a rare autoimmune disorder that causes you to have low platelet levels. Platelets are cell fragments that are found in the blood and normally help the blood to clot. In people with ITP, the body produces antibodies that attack and destroy the platelets.

Can lupus affect your platelets?

Individuals with lupus may have dangerous reductions in the number of red blood cells, white blood cells or platelets (cells that help clot the blood).

What is the difference between lupus and systemic lupus?

When people use the term “lupus,” they usually refer to systemic lupus erythematosus, or “SLE.” Throughout this website, the term “lupus” is used to signal systemic lupus, since SLE constitutes the most common form of the disease. Systemic lupus is so-named because it affects many different organ systems in the body.

What are the signs and symptoms of Lupus Myelitis?

Symptoms. Symptoms of lupus myelitis can vary greatly, but typically involve some degree of paralysis or weakness, ranging from difficulty with movement of one limb to quadriplegia. Depending on the level of the spinal cord affected, there can be urinary bladder or bowel dysfunction, muscle spasms, headache, fever, loss of appetite,…

What are the symptoms of Lupus in men?

The most common lupus symptoms (which are the same for men and women) are: Many people with lupus also have problems that affect their skin and hair, like: Fingers and toes turning white or blue and feeling numb when a person is cold or stressed ( Raynaud’s Disease) Lupus symptoms may come and go — and they can change over time.

What do you need to know about the disease lupus?

What is lupus? Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes swelling (inflammation) and a wide variety of symptoms. Lupus affects everyone differently. Some people have only a few mild symptoms and others have many, more severe symptoms.

Can a woman with lupus get cervical cancer?

Certain studies have shown an elevated risk of cervical cancer and abnormal PAP tests in women with lupus. One study linked the increased incidence of abnormal PAP tests with histories of sexually transmitted disease, contraceptive use, and immunosuppressive medications.