How Common is Lupus Remission?

Partial lupus remission, which is a period in which a person experiences relief from lupus symptoms, is considered common. Unfortunately, partial lupus remission is only temporary, and symptoms eventually return. Total remission, also called prolonged remission, occurs when a person experiences lupus inactivity that lasts for several years at a time or even for the rest of the patient's life. It is extremely rare for lupus patients to experience total remission. More commonly, lupus patients experience shorter periods of lupus remission followed by symptom flare-ups.

It is considered common and normal for a person with lupus to have short-term periods of remission. For example, a person with this condition could spend months feeling better and noticing significant improvement in his symptoms. Unfortunately, however, this period of feeling better doesn’t last indefinitely, and most people have flare-ups too. During times of flare-ups, a person’s symptoms often get worse, and he may feel sick for a significant amount of the time.

Lupus occurs because of the malfunction of a person’s immune system. It develops when the body fails to distinguish between a harmful foreign invader and its own tissues. In such a case, autoantibodies attack these healthy tissues and destroy them, causing the symptoms of lupus. Symptoms may vary but can include fatigue, fever, and weight loss as well as stiff joints, skin lesions, hair loss, and pain.

Fortunately, lupus is a treatable condition, and those who suffer from it are usually able to lead normal lives. This does not mean, however, that it’s not a serious condition. Most people with lupus must take good care of their overall health to minimize symptoms.

An individual in a period of lupus remission may suddenly have a flare-up of symptoms. There are many triggers that seem to stimulate flare-ups. For example, some people experience flare-ups after significant exposure to sunlight, after they are ill with another condition, and during times of stress. Often, pregnant women experience flare-ups as well.

Flare-ups can be particularly disheartening, especially since there is no way for patients to know how long they will last. Doctors cannot predict how long a person will feel ill or suffer from significant symptoms. The same goes for remission. There is no way for doctors to tell how long periods of remission will last before flare-ups occur once more. In some cases, patients eagerly look forward to their next period of remission but end up waiting for years.