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Real members of MyLupusTeam have posted questions and answers that support our community guidelines, and should not be taken as medical advice. Looking for the latest medically reviewed content by doctors and experts? Visit our resource section.

Can a low grade fever occur without elevated Anti dsDNA and normal compliment levels?

A MyLupusTeam Member asked a question 💭
Reinach

Hi there! I have been diagnosed a bit more than a year ago. It was not an easy year but I managed, and I was able to keep working. About a month ago I started to have more fatigue and low grade fevers often accommpanied by a very hot, sometimes a bit red face. First only on some days and then everyday. I saw my rheumatologist, who gave me 20mg of prednison and ran a lot of tests. When I told her after 6 days that the fever is still there, she told me, the fever was not caused by Lupus, because… read more

September 7
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MyLupusTeam

What a tough year it's been — and the past month sounds especially exhausting. To directly answer the question: yes, low-grade fevers can occur in lupus even when bloodwork like Anti-dsDNA and complement levels appear normal. Bloodwork doesn't always tell the full story.

Research shows that up to 60% of fevers in people with Show Full Answer

What a tough year it's been — and the past month sounds especially exhausting. To directly answer the question: yes, low-grade fevers can occur in lupus even when bloodwork like Anti-dsDNA and complement levels appear normal. Bloodwork doesn't always tell the full story.

Research shows that up to 60% of fevers in people with lupus are linked to disease activity, where an overactive immune system releases proteins that trigger fever — even when standard markers look fine. There are several possible reasons for a persistent low-grade fever in lupus, even with negative infection tests:

- Lupus disease activity — inflammation can cause fever even without obvious changes in bloodwork
- Vasculitis — inflammation of blood vessels, which is associated with lupus, can also cause fever
- Medication side effects — treatments like prednisone affect hormone levels and the immune system, which can sometimes contribute to fever
- Lupus nephritis — kidney involvement can sometimes present with fever alongside fatigue and flushing

It's worth noting that Benlysta and MTX can both take several weeks to months to reach full effect, so some symptoms may persist in the meantime. A MyLupusTeam member shared a very relatable experience: "Not a good day today. Fever of 100.3 with chills and so much pain." — so this kind of ongoing struggle is something others in the community truly understand.

Keep tracking the fever patterns and any other symptoms like joint pain, rash, or fatigue, and share those notes with the doctor. If the fever rises above 101°F or persists, reaching out to the healthcare team promptly is really important.

September 7

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