Lupus can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart,
nervous system and other organs of the body. It is not uncommon
for symptoms associated with lupus to resemble symptoms associated
with other types of arthritis and rheumatic disease, making
lupus difficult to diagnose. A butterfly-shaped rash appearing
on the cheeks and over the bridge of the nose (malar rash)
is just one of the distinguishing characterisitics of lupus.
