Intermittent and Persistent Type 2 Lupus: Patient Perspectives on Two Distinct Patterns of Type 2 SLE Symptoms
August 2022
in “
Lupus Science & Medicine
”
TLDR SLE patients experience two patterns of non-inflammatory symptoms: intermittent and persistent.
Researchers developed a new model to characterize SLE symptoms into Type 1 (inflammatory) and Type 2 (non-inflammatory). Through interviews with 42 SLE patients, they identified two patterns of Type 2 symptoms: Intermittent (n=18) and Persistent (n=24). Intermittent Type 2 symptoms resolve when Type 1 symptoms are inactive, while Persistent Type 2 symptoms continue regardless of Type 1 activity. Persistent Type 2 patients often experience joint pain, hair loss, and rash but less severe organ involvement. This model helps understand the lived experiences of SLE patients.