Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHow Long Can You Live With Lupus?Effects of Lupus on the BodyWhen Lupus Is Deadly: Factors Affecting LifespanManaging Lupus
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
How Long Can You Live With Lupus?
Effects of Lupus on the Body
When Lupus Is Deadly: Factors Affecting Lifespan
Managing Lupus
Lupusis generally not deadly and thanks to advancements in medicine, lupus life expectancy for 80% to 90% of those diagnosed is an average lifespan with proper treatment and follow-up care.
There is currently no cure for lupus, also known as systemic lupuserythematosus(SLE), and it remains a serious illness that can harm body systems. Yet a lupus diagnosis no longer means an early death.
Learn howlupus affects the bodyand when it can be deadly, why the life expectancy of those with lupus has improved, and how symptoms can be managed so you can have the best quality of life.
Lupus was once much more deadly than it is today. Now, most people can achieve a normal lifespan, living 10 years or more beyond their diagnosis (that’s how long studies have followed their progress, not the actual prognosis).
The odds improve for those who take their medication as prescribed and follow instructions from their healthcare provider. Those who experience severe lupus flare-ups may be exposed to more risk.
Lupus Outcomes and At-Risk Groups
How Do Genetics and Ethnicity Affect Lupus Risk?
Lupus is a chronicautoimmune disorder. While the exact cause of lupus is unknown, scientists believe that environmental factors, genetics, medications, infections, and stress play roles in causing the condition.
In people who have lupus, the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues, which causes pain, swelling, and organ damage, among other symptoms. Lupus can damage many parts of the body, including major organs.
Heart
A number of studies suggest a higher risk of cardiovascular(heart) diseasein people diagnosed with lupus, although there have been mixed results.These illnesses can include heart rhythm changes, such asatrial fibrillation, as well as heart failure.
The Connection Between Lupus and Heart Disease
Blood Vessels
The impacts of lupus on the cardiovascular system extend to blood vessel changes, such as peripheralvascular disease. Studies suggest an increase in the risk of blood clots.In some studies, the risk of stroke was two or three times that of the general population.
Brain
Lupus may increase the risk of stroke but it also can lead to other changes. Neuropsychiatric lupus is a serious complication that leads to headaches, seizures, and other neurological changes. It also can lead to anxiety, mood disorders, and cognitive challenges like confusion.
These manifestations of lupus also are linked to illnesses likemyasthenia gravisor aseptic (non-bacterial)meningitis, and they’re a leading cause of lupus-related deaths.
Differences Between Lupus and Multiple Sclerosis
Skin
Skin-related symptoms are the most common clinical findings of lupus that healthcare providers see. Inflammation affects up to 93% of people diagnosed with lupus, and red spots and butterfly rashes are the first sign in up to 25% of people with the disease.
Other factors may increase the risk of skin changes with lupus, including exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and smoking.
Psoriatic Arthritis vs. Lupus: What Are the Differences?
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See PhotoReproduced with permission from ©DermNet and ©Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2023.
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.See Photo
This photo contains content that some people may find graphic or disturbing.
Reproduced with permission from ©DermNet and ©Raimo Suhonendermnetnz.org2023.
Joints
Lupus can cause pain and inflammation around the joints. Symptoms of the inflammatory arthritis of lupus include swelling and stiffness, most often in the joints of fingers, wrists, ankles, and knees that are farther away from the body’s core.
Lupus also can lead to muscle pain and weakness.
How Lupus Affects the Aging Process
Lungs
Lupus is linked to a number of respiratory illnesses, some that may be more likely because of the drugs used to treat lupus.Interstitial lung disease, acute pneumonitis, and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) are just a few of the related conditions.
Kidneys
Lupusnephritisis a common complication affecting the kidneys, affecting about 50% of people with lupus. Up to 20% of people who develop this condition will progress to potentially fatal end-stage kidney disease.
Treatment is possible, but experts stress the importance of routine screening for kidney function.
Understanding Lupus Nephritis
While the exact cause of lupus is unknown, scientists believe that environmental factors, genetics, medications, infections, and stress play roles in causing the condition.
How Autoimmune Diseases Are Treated
Again, lupus is not considered the deadly disease that it once was. But that does not mean that it can not be fatal.
Kidney failureused to be the most common cause of lupus mortality. It remains a risk of death that’s up to eight times greater than that of the general population.When lupus shortens someone’s lifespan, it is most often attributed to long-term complications of the disease, especially:
Lupus complications are increasingly related to aggressive treatments. These treatments can extend a patient’s life considerably, but their side effects may eventually take a health toll.
The severity of your lupus factors into your life expectancy. It’s been shown that people with more severe lupus tend to have shorter lifespans.This is probably because people with severe disease have more disease complications and get more aggressive treatment.
Managing lupus is key to living a normal lifespan. Some medicines used to treat and manage lupus symptoms include:
An Overview of Biologics for Lupus Treatment
Lifestyle Changes
Other ways to manage lupus symptoms include:
You also may want to consider otherdiet changesand lifestyle practices:
Lupus Treatment Options
Summary
Lupus life expectancy has improved greatly with the medical advances of recent decades. However, it remains a chronic disease for which there is no cure.
Lupus is deadly when complications occur. Among the most serious complications are kidney disease, heart disease, and neurological impacts.
That said, most people have an average lifespan with proper treatment. Lifestyle practices can help to prevent flare-ups and keep you healthy.
Lupus Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Download PDF
Email AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
Sign Up
Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.
There was an error. Please try again.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lupus Foundation of America.Prognosis and life expectancy.Arnaud L, Tektonidou MG.Long-term outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus: trends over time and major contributors.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 Dec 5;59(Suppl5):v29-v38. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keaa382.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lupus risk factors.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.What is systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)?Gao N, Kong M, Li X, Wei D, Zhu X, Hong Z,et al.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Cardiovascular Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study.Front Immunol. 2022 Jun 6;13:908831. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.908831.Liu Y, Tu Z, Zhang X, Du K, Xie Z, Lin Z.Pathogenesis and treatment of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: A review.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 Sep 5;10:998328. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.998328.Hile GA, Kahlenberg JM.Immunopathogenesis of skin injury in systemic lupus erythematosus.Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2021 Mar 1;33(2):173-180. doi:10.1097/BOR.0000000000000770.Lupus Foundation of America.Lupus and the joints, muscles, and bones.Amarnani R, Yeoh SA, Denneny EK, Wincup C.Lupus and the Lungs: The Assessment and Management of Pulmonary Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Jan 18;7:610257. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.610257.Alforaih N, Whittall-Garcia L, Touma Z.A Review of Lupus Nephritis.J Appl Lab Med.2022 Oct 29;7(6):1450-1467. doi: 10.1093/jalm/jfac036.Ocampo-piraquive V, Nieto-aristizábal I, Cañas CA, Tobón GJ.Mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus: Causes, predictors and interventions.Expert Rev Clin Immunol.2018;14(12):1043-1053. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2018.1538789Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Medications to treat lupus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to manage symptoms.MedLine.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Lupus Foundation of America.Prognosis and life expectancy.Arnaud L, Tektonidou MG.Long-term outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus: trends over time and major contributors.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 Dec 5;59(Suppl5):v29-v38. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keaa382.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lupus risk factors.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.What is systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)?Gao N, Kong M, Li X, Wei D, Zhu X, Hong Z,et al.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Cardiovascular Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study.Front Immunol. 2022 Jun 6;13:908831. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.908831.Liu Y, Tu Z, Zhang X, Du K, Xie Z, Lin Z.Pathogenesis and treatment of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: A review.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 Sep 5;10:998328. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.998328.Hile GA, Kahlenberg JM.Immunopathogenesis of skin injury in systemic lupus erythematosus.Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2021 Mar 1;33(2):173-180. doi:10.1097/BOR.0000000000000770.Lupus Foundation of America.Lupus and the joints, muscles, and bones.Amarnani R, Yeoh SA, Denneny EK, Wincup C.Lupus and the Lungs: The Assessment and Management of Pulmonary Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Jan 18;7:610257. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.610257.Alforaih N, Whittall-Garcia L, Touma Z.A Review of Lupus Nephritis.J Appl Lab Med.2022 Oct 29;7(6):1450-1467. doi: 10.1093/jalm/jfac036.Ocampo-piraquive V, Nieto-aristizábal I, Cañas CA, Tobón GJ.Mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus: Causes, predictors and interventions.Expert Rev Clin Immunol.2018;14(12):1043-1053. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2018.1538789Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Medications to treat lupus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to manage symptoms.MedLine.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Lupus Foundation of America.Prognosis and life expectancy.Arnaud L, Tektonidou MG.Long-term outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus: trends over time and major contributors.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 Dec 5;59(Suppl5):v29-v38. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keaa382.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lupus risk factors.National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.What is systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)?Gao N, Kong M, Li X, Wei D, Zhu X, Hong Z,et al.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Cardiovascular Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study.Front Immunol. 2022 Jun 6;13:908831. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.908831.Liu Y, Tu Z, Zhang X, Du K, Xie Z, Lin Z.Pathogenesis and treatment of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: A review.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 Sep 5;10:998328. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.998328.Hile GA, Kahlenberg JM.Immunopathogenesis of skin injury in systemic lupus erythematosus.Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2021 Mar 1;33(2):173-180. doi:10.1097/BOR.0000000000000770.Lupus Foundation of America.Lupus and the joints, muscles, and bones.Amarnani R, Yeoh SA, Denneny EK, Wincup C.Lupus and the Lungs: The Assessment and Management of Pulmonary Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Jan 18;7:610257. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.610257.Alforaih N, Whittall-Garcia L, Touma Z.A Review of Lupus Nephritis.J Appl Lab Med.2022 Oct 29;7(6):1450-1467. doi: 10.1093/jalm/jfac036.Ocampo-piraquive V, Nieto-aristizábal I, Cañas CA, Tobón GJ.Mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus: Causes, predictors and interventions.Expert Rev Clin Immunol.2018;14(12):1043-1053. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2018.1538789Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Medications to treat lupus.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to manage symptoms.MedLine.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
Lupus Foundation of America.Prognosis and life expectancy.
Arnaud L, Tektonidou MG.Long-term outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus: trends over time and major contributors.Rheumatology (Oxford). 2020 Dec 5;59(Suppl5):v29-v38. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/keaa382.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Lupus risk factors.
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.What is systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus)?
Gao N, Kong M, Li X, Wei D, Zhu X, Hong Z,et al.Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Cardiovascular Disease: A Mendelian Randomization Study.Front Immunol. 2022 Jun 6;13:908831. doi:10.3389/fimmu.2022.908831.
Liu Y, Tu Z, Zhang X, Du K, Xie Z, Lin Z.Pathogenesis and treatment of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus: A review.Front Cell Dev Biol. 2022 Sep 5;10:998328. doi:10.3389/fcell.2022.998328.
Hile GA, Kahlenberg JM.Immunopathogenesis of skin injury in systemic lupus erythematosus.Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2021 Mar 1;33(2):173-180. doi:10.1097/BOR.0000000000000770.
Lupus Foundation of America.Lupus and the joints, muscles, and bones.
Amarnani R, Yeoh SA, Denneny EK, Wincup C.Lupus and the Lungs: The Assessment and Management of Pulmonary Manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.Front Med (Lausanne). 2021 Jan 18;7:610257. doi: 10.3389/fmed.2020.610257.
Alforaih N, Whittall-Garcia L, Touma Z.A Review of Lupus Nephritis.J Appl Lab Med.2022 Oct 29;7(6):1450-1467. doi: 10.1093/jalm/jfac036.
Ocampo-piraquive V, Nieto-aristizábal I, Cañas CA, Tobón GJ.Mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus: Causes, predictors and interventions.Expert Rev Clin Immunol.2018;14(12):1043-1053. doi:10.1080/1744666X.2018.1538789
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Medications to treat lupus.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.How to manage symptoms.
MedLine.Systemic lupus erythematosus.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
