Aerobic Exercise in Women With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Background: As many as 1.5 million Americans are living with systemic lupus erythematosus (Lupus). Lupus makes people very tired. It also makes it hard for people to be physically active. Studies have shown that aerobic exercise training helps people with heart or lung illnesses be less tired and more active. Researchers want to use an exercise training program on people with Lupus to see if it has the same results. Objectives: To find out if aerobic exercise helps people with Lupus be less tired and more active. Eligibility: Women ages 21-80 who have Lupus and are not physically active. Design: Participants will be screened with a medical history and physical exam. They will have heart and lung tests, as well as blood and urine tests. They will also answer questions about their quality of life and take a test that measures lupus activity. The study will last 14-16 weeks. For the first two study visits, participants will do treadmill exercise tests and answer more quality of life questions. For these treadmill tests, participants will wear sensors, a mask, or a mouthpiece while they exercise. Participants will then begin exercise training, 3 times a week for 12 weeks. At each of these visits, they will walk very fast for 30 minutes on a track or a treadmill. Each visit will last about 1 hour. At the halfway point of the study, participants will repeat some of the screening tests. This visit will last about 3 hours. At the end of the study, participants will repeat the screening tests. They will also repeat the treadmill exercise tests.