US Medical Term · conditions
Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus)
Lupus (Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico)
What it means
Lupus is a chronic (long-lasting) type of autoimmune disease, a disease that happens when the immune system attacks healthy cells and tissues by mistake. The attack causes inflammation and can damage many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common type; other types are cutaneous lupus, which affects the skin, drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus, which is rare. Lupus can have many symptoms, and they differ from person to person; some of the more common ones are painful and swollen joints, fever, fatigue, and a red rash, most often on the face. Symptoms may come and go, and a period of symptoms is called a flare. There is no specific test for lupus.
Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) in Spanish
- Spanish term
- Lupus (Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico)
- Gender and article
- masculine: el lupus (el lupus eritematoso sistémico)
- Pronunciation
- LOO-poos (LOO-poos eh-ree-teh-mah-TOH-soh sees-TEH-mee-koh)
| Other Spanish terms | Where it is used | Note |
|---|---|---|
| LES | General | Abbreviation of lupus eritematoso sistémico used by the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia and given as another name by the National Cancer Institute's Spanish dictionary. |
| lupus eritematoso diseminado | General | Listed by the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia among its alternative names. |
| lupus eritematoso | General | Shorter form listed by the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia among its alternative names. |
Lupus is spelled the same in English and Spanish, and in Spanish it is masculine: MedlinePlus en español writes el lupus. The full name of the most common type is lupus eritematoso sistémico, abbreviated LES in the MedlinePlus en español encyclopedia and in the National Cancer Institute's Spanish dictionary; the English abbreviation is SLE. The encyclopedia also lists lupus eritematoso diseminado and lupus eritematoso among its alternative names.
MedlinePlus en español calls a period of symptoms a brote (flare). Other words it uses with lupus: enfermedad autoinmune (autoimmune disease; its encyclopedia writes enfermedad autoinmunitaria), sistema inmunitario (immune system), lupus cutáneo (cutaneous lupus), nefritis lúpica (lupus nephritis, kidney damage) and reumatólogo (rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in autoimmune diseases and other diseases of the bones, joints and muscles). The facial rash is described as en forma de mariposa, butterfly-shaped.
Phrases for an appointment
What a patient or a clinician might say, in English and Spanish:
| Who | English | Spanish |
|---|---|---|
| Patient | I was diagnosed with lupus two years ago. | Me diagnosticaron lupus hace dos años. |
| Clinician | Which symptoms do you have during a flare? | ¿Qué síntomas tiene durante un brote? |
| Patient | My joints hurt and swell, and they feel stiff in the morning. | Me duelen y se me hinchan las articulaciones, y las siento rígidas por la mañana. |
| Patient | I get a red rash on my face when I am out in the sun. | Me sale una erupción roja en la cara cuando me expongo al sol. |
| Clinician | Does anyone in your family have lupus or another autoimmune disease? | ¿Alguien de su familia tiene lupus u otra enfermedad autoinmune? |
| Clinician | I am going to order blood tests and a urine test. | Voy a pedirle exámenes de sangre y un análisis de orina. |
| Clinician | I am referring you to a rheumatologist. | Voy a referirle a un reumatólogo o una reumatóloga. |
| Patient | Should I tell you right away if I notice new symptoms? | ¿Debo avisarle de inmediato si noto síntomas nuevos? |
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) |
| Spanish (Español) | Lupus (Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico) |
| Chinese (中文) | 全身性紅斑狼瘡 |
| Korean (한국어) | 루푸스(전신홍반루푸스) |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Lupus ban đỏ hệ thống |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) |
| Portuguese (Português) | Lúpus (Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico) |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | โรคลูปัส (ซีสเต็มิกลูปัสอีริทีมาโทซัส) |
| Japanese (日本語) | 全身性エリテマトーデス |
Where you'll see it
Related ICD-10-CM category
ICD-10-CM code: M32 → Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)Related terms
Your right to an interpreter in the United States
If English is not your primary language and you have difficulty communicating in English, you may need an interpreter or a translated document when you visit a doctor or dentist, go to the emergency room or pick up a prescription. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights states that two federal laws, Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, require programs that receive its funding to provide language access services free of charge.
You can ask when you make the appointment or at the front desk: "I need an interpreter, please." «Necesito un intérprete, por favor.»
More terms: Blood and immune system
All terms in this area: Blood and immune system — Sangre y sistema inmunitario
Sources
- Lupus — MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine
- Lupus — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- Lupus eritematoso sistémico (Enciclopedia médica) — MedlinePlus en español, Biblioteca Nacional de Medicina
- NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms: lupus — National Cancer Institute (NIH)
- Diccionario de cáncer del NCI: lupus — Instituto Nacional del Cáncer (NIH)
- Limited English Proficiency (LEP): Your Right to Language Assistance Services — U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights
This page is a language reference. It is not medical advice.
Last reviewed: October 7, 2026