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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (lupus)Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), also simply known as Lupus, is an auto-immune disease which means that a sufferer's own immune system attacks their own body tissues, causing the symptoms. That is, the person's own immune system turns against parts of the body that it is designed to protect, causing inflammation and damage to various body tissues. Lupus can affect many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and brain.
Symptoms
The symptoms of Lupus vary from person to person and from case to case, and the symptoms can range from mild to severe and may come and go over time. The symptoms may include one or more of the following:
- Painful or swollen joints,
- Unexplained fever,
- Extreme fatigue, and/or,
- A characteristic red skin rash - called Butterfly Rash or Malar Rash - may also appear across the nose, face, ears, upper arms, shoulders, chest, and/or hands.
Lupus is characterised by periods of illness, called flares, and periods of wellness or remission. Understanding how to prevent or anticipate flares, and how to treat them
when they do occur, helps people with Lupus maintain better health.
Risk Factors
The main risk factors for Lupus include:
- Age
- Sex
- Race
- Family history
Lupus usually first affects people between the ages of 15 and 45 years, but it can occur in childhood or later in life as well.
Many more women than men have Lupus, and Lupus is more common in non-Caucasian women.
In addition, Lupus can run in families, but the risk that a child or a brother or sister of a patient will also have Lupus is still quite low.
Causes
Lupus is a complex disease and, at the current time, its exact causes are unknown.
Currently, it is believed that a combination of genetic, environmental, and possibly hormonal factors work together to cause the disease. Other factors, such as sunlight, stress, certain drugs, and exposure to certain viruses may also play a role in causing Lupus.
Diagnosis
It can take months or even years for doctors to piece together the symptoms to diagnose this complex disease accurately. Making a correct diagnosis for Lupus requires knowledge and awareness on the part of the doctor and open and accurate communication on the part of the patient.
At the current time, there is no single test for Lupus, but a range of tests may be used. To obtain a diagnosis for Lupus a doctor may perform one or more of the following tests:
- Physical examination,
- Medical history check,
- Blood tests,
- Skin biopsy,
- Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test - the majority of Lupus sufferers test positive to this test. Antinuclear Antibodies are antibodies to DNA, and they react against components of the cell nucleus, the "command centre" of the body's cells. This test is also used for Scleroderma - see section 9.4 above.
- X-Rays of the affected joints, and/or,
- A fluid sample from the affected joint.
These tests will help to confirm a diagnosis, or help rule out other types of Arthritis.
No single test can determine whether a person has lupus, but several laboratory tests may help the doctor to make a diagnosis. For example, most people with lupus test positive for certain antinuclear antibodies (ANA) - e.g. antibodies to DNA - that react against components of the nucleus, or "command centre" of the body's cells.
Complications / Issues
Despite the symptoms of Lupus and the potential side-effects of treatment, people with Lupus can, for the most part, maintain a high quality of life.
It is important for people with Lupus to receive regular health care, instead of seeking help only when symptoms worsen.
Because people with Lupus can be more susceptible to infections, a doctor may recommend yearly influenza vaccinations or pneumococcal vaccinations for some patients.
Like all forms of Arthritis, if left untreated, the sufferer may experience severe pain and discomfort, which will impact on all facets of their life.
Treatment
Like other forms of Arthritis, there is no cure for Lupus but there are many treatments for specific symptoms. The most appropriate management and treatment options for Lupus depend on the individual's symptoms, and the condition can be effectively treated with drugs, and most people with the disease can lead active, healthy lives.
Treatment plans are tailored to the individual's needs based on the patient's age, sex, health, symptoms, and lifestyle, and may change over time.
Lupus is characterised by periods of illness, called flares, and periods of wellness or remission. Understanding how to prevent or anticipate flares, and how to treat them when they do occur, helps people with Lupus maintain better health.
As with all forms of Arthritis, treatment will provide the best results if:
- Sufferers make efforts to learn about and understand their condition.
- Sufferers learn techniques to help manage their arthritis.
- Sufferers should begin treatment as soon as possible to begin managing the condition, reduce pain and discomfort, minimise joint / bone deterioration, and help them maintain mobility.
- Sufferers should consult their doctor / rheumatologist regularly so that they can keep up to date with new treatments and management techniques.
Prevention
There is no way to prevent the onset of this form of Arthritis, however, the symptoms of the condition can be managed and treated to reduce pain, discomfort, and damage to joints and bones.
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Scleroderma can be a chronic (that is, it gets worse as a person ages), progressive auto-immune disease, which means that a sufferer's own immune system attacks their own body tissues, causing the symptoms. That is, the person's own immune system...
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