June 19, 2026 /
Multiple sclerosis and lupus can have some overlapping symptoms, but they’re two distinct conditions. Read on to find out more about common symptoms and possible treatments.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) and systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus) are both serious diseases that result from a failure of the body’s immune system to function properly.
Multiple sclerosis
In MS, the body’s immune system damages myelin, the protective layer around your nerves. This interferes with communication from your brain to the rest of your body. The result is a variety of symptomsTrusted Source, such as:
- vision problems
- muscle weakness, often in the arms and legs
- muscle stiffness with painful muscle spasms
- tingling, numbness, or pain in the arms, legs, trunk, or face
- clumsiness, especially difficulty staying balanced when walking
- bladder control difficulties
- intermittent or constant dizziness
- mental or physical fatigue
- mood changes such as depression or difficulty with emotional expression or control
- difficulty concentrating, multitasking, thinking, or learning, or difficulties with memory or judgment
There’s some debate among doctors about whether MS should be considered an autoimmune disease. Researchers haven’t yet found the MS substance that would trigger the body’s immune response (the antigen).
Instead, MS is sometimes referred to as an “immune-mediated” condition rather than an “autoimmune disease.”
Lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means the immune system reacts against healthy antigens. These are proteins that trigger the body’s immune response.
It’s as if the immune system can’t tell the difference between antigens that are supposed to be in your body and infections or other foreign “invaders” that the immune system is supposed to attack.
With lupus, your immune system attacks various parts of the body, such as:
- skin
- joints
- internal organs
Common symptoms
MS and lupus have some distinct symptoms. People with MS may experience:
- difficulty walking
- vision loss
- slurred speech
Lupus, on the other hand, often causes skin rashes and fever.
MS and lupus do have several things in common, however. The arthritis that accompanies lupus can often be mistaken for joint and muscle stiffness and pain caused by MS. The two diseases can also leave you feeling very tired.
MS and lupus are also alike in that symptoms can come and go. People with lupus may refer to having a “flare,” which means the symptoms are prominent. These symptoms can includeTrusted Source:
- joint pain
- rashes
- weight loss
- anemia
- muscle aches
- fatigue
Sometimes the symptoms are like those you’ve had in the past, while other flares can bring on new symptoms.
Many people with MS also have “relapsing-remitting” symptoms. This means that signs of the disease can develop over a period of weeks and then gradually disappear. The remission period can last a couple of months or a couple of years.
However, as the disease progresses, many symptoms tend to get worse without going into remission. The most obvious signs of worsening MS are walking problems.
Can you have both?
Doctors usually determine that you have MS by eliminating other conditions, such as lupus. Both MS and lupus can be difficult to diagnose. It’s also possible to have overlapping diseases like lupus and another autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
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