March 31, 2022 | Lupus is an autoimmune disease, meaning that it causes the body’s immune system to attack healthy cells and tissues by mistake. This attack causes inflammation, and in some cases permanent tissue damage, which can be widespread, affecting the skin, joints, heart, lung, kidneys and brain. If you have a family member with lupus or another autoimmune disease, you may be more likely to develop lupus. An estimated 16,00 cases are diagnosed in this country every year, with at least five million people worldwide having some form of the disease. Lupus strikes mostly women of childbearing age, although men, children and teen-agers can develop the disease as well. Somewhere between 10 and 15 percent of people with lupus will die prematurely due to complications from the disease. Fortunately, improved methods of diagnosis and disease management have led to many people with lupus going on to living a normal life span.

March 31, 2022 | There are four kinds of lupus, a chronic, or long-term, disease that causes inflammation and pain in numerous parts of the body. The most common form is systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE, with 70 percent of patients with lupus having this form of the disease. SLE can be mild or severe and cause inflammation of multiple organs or organ systems in the body, either acutely or chronically. In contrast, cutaneous lupus, or CLE, is limited to the skin, although in some patients it may eventually progress to SLE. Drug-induced lupus can be caused by prescription medications like hydralazine, which is used to treat high blood pressure. It has many of the same symptoms as SLE but rarely affects major organs and disappears about six months after the medication is stopped. Meanwhile, neonatal lupus occurs only in newborns and is not a true form of lupus. Most of the symptoms of neonatal lupus will disappear after six months.

March 31, 2022 | Exactly what causes the autoimmune disease lupus remains a mystery, with researchers still trying to learn what may trigger or lead to the disease. Doctors know that it is a complex disease in which the body’s immune system attacks the person’s tissues and organs. Research shows that certain genes play a role in the development of lupus. The different forms of these genes carry instructions for proteins that may affect the immune system. Researchers are studying how high levels or low levels of these proteins may be important in the development of the disease. Exposure to certain factors in the environment – such as viral infections, sunlight, certain medications, and smoking – may trigger lupus. Researchers, meanwhile, think that if the body does not remove damaged or dead cells normally, this could trick the immune system into constantly fighting against itself. This process could cause an autoimmune response, which could lead to lupus.

March 31, 2022 | The symptoms of lupus can range from moderate to severe and vary from person to person. A person with lupus may experience periods of illness known as flares and periods of wellness or remission. Some of the more common symptoms include fever, fatigue, hair loss, swollen glands and swelling in the legs or around the eyes. Sensitivity to the sun because of lupus may lead to a rash. Inflammation caused by lupus can cause kidney damage as well as seizures and memory problems due to changes in the brain and central nervous system. Some people with lupus may be more likely to develop other conditions, such as cardiovascular disease due to inflammation of the heart and blood vessel tissues. Because there is no specific test for lupus, it may take months or years to correctly diagnose the disease. A diagnosis usually relies on a series of tests, including a family medical history, blood tests, a skin biopsy and a kidney biopsy.

March 31, 2022 | There is no cure for lupus, but medications and lifestyle changes can help someone with the disease control it. The primary goal of treatment is to prevent any flares, or periods of illness, and to care for the flares when they do occur. Drugs will be prescribed to reduce any swelling and pain, prevent damage to the joints and balance the hormones. Medications may also be necessary for problems related to lupus such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure or infection. It is important to take an active role in your treatment. It helps to learn more about lupus, being able to spot the warning signs of a flare can help you prevent the flare or make the symptoms less severe. You should report new symptoms to your doctor right away so that your treatment plan can be changed if needed. It is also important to find ways to cope with the stress of having lupus. Exercising and finding ways to relax may make it easier for you to cope.