Lupus can cause inflammation in different organs in your body and it may be necessary for you to have medical tests to ensure these organs are healthy. If you have any symptoms, such tests will be carried out more frequently.

Some of these tests may include:

• Lung Function Tests - these tests look at how well your lungs work. You may also need special pictures of your lungs to be undertaken, with a chest x-ray or scan. You wont feel any pain or any different when these lung tests are carried out.

• Echocardiogram - this is a test that provides a picture of your heart and looks at how your heart muscle moves and pumps blood around the body. Having an echocardiogram doesn't hurt and will show whether there is any inflammation affect the heart lining.

• Kidney biopsy - this is only performed if it seems your kidneys may be affected. A biopsy is where a small amount of tissue is taken from the kidney and examined under a microscope. This is usually performed in hospital under a short general anesthetic (where you are "put to sleep") or sedation (where you are given a medicine which makes you very sleep and relaxed), depending upon your age.