Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis are two totally different diseases, neither one causes the other BUT the two can co-exist in a person. Rheuamatoid Arthritis causes joint problems with joint breakdown, whereas Lupus generally causes joint pain and inflammation with no joint breakdown. Lots of people can have both diseases together. Hope this helps,
My mom has both we went over her blood results yesterday
at the doctors office and her ana is high and her rheumatoid factor is also
high.
He changed his mind about trying other meds for now
and told her to increase her prednisone during this flare
up, we are going to the dermatologist tonight to see about the rash on her arm.
Well the dermatologist isn't definitely sure that it is
a lupus rash She mentioned this other long name of another skin disorder that she has seen in RA patients so She took a biopsy of the rash and we will know in about a week or so....
My mom is so depressed and worried that she is getting worse and this really stresses me out too She has been
crying a lot. I just keep telling her that it will get better.....I hope.....
How are you? Do you have your symptoms under control?
[This message has been edited by PINKYPRISCILLA (edited 10-16-2003).]
Pinky, my mom also has lupus, sjogren's and rhuematoid. She is allergic to most meds and takes only prednisone. One thing her doc told her is that she is sort of lucky that she has all 3 rather than just lupus. He believes that having more than one autoimmune tends to keep the organ involvement to a minimum. In her case, she probably had lupus etc for a good 15 yrs before diagnosis, for a total of over 20 years. She has slightly elevated (but stable) liver enzymes but no other involvement.
Lupus and RA? 
