Lupus Slideshow Pictures Gallery of Lupus and Image Collection Take the Lupus Quiz

Medical Author:

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

Dr. Shiel received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors from the University of Notre Dame. There he was involved in research in radiation biology and received the Huisking Scholarship. After graduating from St. Louis University School of Medicine, he completed his Internal Medicine residency and Rheumatology fellowship at the University of California, Irvine. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology.

View Full Profile

Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, Chief Medical Editor

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

View Full Profile

Lupus Prognosis

The prognosis varies depending on whether there is serious organ inflammation (for example kidney or brain involvement).

Many lupus patients have very limited disease and live relatively normal lives with minimal problems. Others have multiorgan involvement with kidney failure, heart attacks, and strokes. The diversity of outcomes reflects the diversity of the disease.

With respect to fertility, women with lupus are just as capable of becoming pregnant and having children as the general population. However, there is a much higher occurrence of complications in pregnancy, especially if the kidneys are involved by the disease or if the disease is active. Women whose lupus has been inactive for six to 12 months are more likely to have a successful pregnancy. In addition, antibodies formed in the mother that are transferred from mother to fetus can occasionally affect the infant, leading to rashes, low blood counts, or more seriously a slow heart rate due to complete heart block (neonatal lupus). For these reasons, all women with lupus who are or who desire to become pregnant should consult with their treating rheumatologist or other treating physicians and should be referred for "high-risk" obstetric care.