1. Persistent (continuing) fatigue which is out of proportion to what you consider your normal fatigue
2. Persistent weakness
3. Aching all over without any obvious reason
4. Persistent fever (In order to establish that you have fever, take your temperature every six hours and write down the results.)
5. Persistent loss of appetite
6. Involuntary weight loss
7. Excessive and persistent hair loss
8. Recurrent (repeated) nose bleeds
9. Sores on the roof of the mouth which burn when spicy foods are eaten
10. Unexplained rash anywhere on the body
11. Persistent hives
12. Skin ulcers
13. Recurrent pain in the joints
14. Swelling of one or several joints
15. Persistent joint stiffness upon wakening in the morning
16. Chest pain which increases when breathing in
17. Unusual shortness of breath
18. Coughing up blood
19. Persistent, unusual headache
20. Persistent nausea and vomiting
21. Recurrent or persistent pain in the abdomen
22. Persistent and worsening swelling of the feet and legs
23. Persistent swelling of the eyelids
24. Blood in the urine or in the stools

by Jean-Luc Senécal, MD, FRCPC
Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Montreal School of Medicine
Director, Connective Tissue Disease Clinic and Rheumatology-Immunology Research Laboratory,
Division of Rheumatology, Notre-Dame Hospital
Montreal, Quebec

Copyright © 1990; Second Edition 1991, 4th printing 1998 Lupus Canada.
All rights reserved.

This Lupus Canada publication (ISBN 1-895358-02-7) offers information to help
in understanding lupus and learning how to manage the symptoms and effects of the disease.

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or in its entirety for anything other than the personal use of the individual is
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