Does this mean it's organ affecting SLE?

[Lucy74]

I was diagnosed with SLE in Jan 2013 and at the time, was told it was the non organ affecting. However, in the last few months I have had pericarditis and a little bit of fluid on the heart. Does this mean that it is now organ affecting SLE?

[Purpletop]

Not really - they don't class pericarditis as organ affecting as it is 'only' the membrane around the heart that's affected and it can be resolved swiftly with steroids. Organ-affecting in respect of heart would be heart valve or heart muscle, that sort of thing. I have had pericarditis too - not nice but you can get rid of it.

[Lucy74 in reply to Purpletop]

Ah! Good news then. Thanks purpletop! Can always rely on you for the facts.