5. Weight changes
Patients with lupus often undergo weight changes, and weight loss is the most common, at least in the early stages of the disease. This weight loss is caused by an alteration in the energy metabolism, and loss of appetite also contributes to the problem. In some instances of lupus, patients develop mouth sores, and medications may give them stomach problems, and all of them contribute to inadequate nutrition and weight loss.
Weight gain might also be the case, especially in lupus patients with ongoing treatment. Their treatment includes corticosteroids, and fluid retention is one of the side effects of these medications. Similarly, lupus patients with an alteration to the kidneys would also display fluid retention and swelling, increasing their weight out of water content.