anyone familar with lupus erythematosus?

Hello
These could be stretch marks from the Prednisone. They do not sound like anything typically associated with lupus but I am not a doctor. It's a bit surprising to me that your doctors aren't familiar with this effect of Prednisone and also that they haven't suggested you see a dermatologist, the specialist who deals with skin problems.

Lupus is one of more than one hundred autoimmune diseases of various sorts so to talk about having an autoimmune disease isn't all that helpful. I suggest you find out what sort of autoimmune disease they are thinking of and why. Many lupus symptoms resemble those of other diseases and because there are only four specific signs of lupus but not everybody with lupus has them, it often happens that diagnosis is as much by elimination of other possibilities.

Lupus is one of a group of autoimmune connective tissue tissue diseases. Because joint aches and pains are common it is a speciality of rheumatology but it is a multi system disease that can affect almost all body parts and systems. Sometimes people see immunologists sometimes hematologists if the problems are mainly related to blood abnormalities or a urologist or nephrologist if the kidneys are involved.

If your doctors think you might have lupus there are several basic tests they can do to get a better idea of the lupus possibility and they can refer you to a rheumatologist for checking if they are unwilling to do these tests.

BB

Hi Smurfy. The medical term for the type of lupus most of us on the forum have is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). The erythematosus refers to the redness many of us get. The other types of lupus are Drug Induced Lupus and Discoid Lupus. The Discoid kind causes lesions. Like BB said, your marks could be from prednisone. Your PCP should be able to tell what they are, but if you want to see a specialist a dermatologist is a doc who diagnoses and treats all types of skin conditions- including discoid lupus. You certainly don't need any other ailments! Let us know OK? Love, Butterflake

It sounds like purple striae to me which can be secondary to prednisone. Google purple striae and see if that sounds like what you're dealing with. Judy

Will do smurfy! Judy