The Differences Between Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis feel greater pain in the joints
Lupus can affect a larger number of areas, in relation to RA. When it attacks the joints, it can cause RA-like symptoms such as pain, stiffness, and swelling. However, in lupus, these symptoms are not as intense as those in RA. Similar to RA, patients may also experience other symptoms such as fevers, weight loss, and dry eyes. Lupus, however, has several iconic symptoms of its own, including a butterfly rash (called malar rash) on the patient’s face, which starts on the bridge of the nose and spreads towards the cheeks, almost in the shape of a butterfly. Headaches and kidney problems are also common.
