Lupus Erythematosus - Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Lupus Erythematosus is ( lupus) is a chronic autoimmune disease and autoimmune disease. Lupus can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and/or other organs of the body and most common symptoms include skin rashes and arthritis, often accompanied by fatigue and fever. SLE may also be caused by certain drugs. African Americans and Asians are affected more often than people from other races. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are attacked by its own immune system. One of the mechanisms that the immune system uses to fight infections is the production of antibodies. Genetic factors increase the tendency of developing autoimmune diseases, and autoimmune diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis , and immune thyroid disorders are more common among relatives of patients with lupus than the general population.

Some scientists believe that the immune system in lupus is more easily stimulated by external factors like viruses or ultraviolet light. The immune system is a complex system within the body. SLE may be mild or severe enough to cause death. SLE affects nine times as many women as men. It may occur at any age, but appears most often in people between the ages of 10 and 50 years. Many as 30% of patients present with some dermatological symptoms (and 65% suffer such symptoms at some point), with 30% to 50% suffering from the classic malar rash (or butterfly rash ) associated with the disease. Patients may present with discoid lupus (thick, red scaly patches on the skin). Alopecia , mouth, nasal, and vaginal ulcers , and lesions on the skin are also possible manifestations.

Causes of Lupus Erythematosus

Common causes of Lupus Erythematosus

• Genetics factors ( chromosome 6).
• Environmental triggers.
• Drug reactions ( procainamide , hydralazine and quinidine).
• Discoid (cutaneous).
• Immune thyroid disorders.

Symptoms of Lupus Erythematosus

Common Symptoms of Lupus Erythematosus

• Fever.
• Malaise.
• Joint pains.
• Loss of appetite.
• Myalgias.
• Fatigue.
• Hair loss.
• Swelling.
• Pain.
• Stiffness.
• Seizures.

Treatment of Lupus Erythematosus

Common Treatment of Lupus Erythematosus

• Ue of ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) and medications like ibuprofen in treating lupus requires some caution. Ibuprofen and similar drugs can harm kidney function, especially in people who already have kidney problems.
• Use of anticonvulsants for seizures, for example, and the use of antidepressants for severe depression
• Ue of steroids or other immune-suppressing agents (such as azathioprine or cyclophosphamide).
• Antimalarial drugs such as hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine are excellent alternatives for people with lupus who do not respond well to ibuprofen or aspirin. Many people on antimalarial drugs experience significant relief the symptoms.
• If blood clots form spontaneously in the body. Use of heparin or warfarin (Coumadin) is advised. In pregnancy, heparin is the agent of choice because of the adverse fetal effects of warfarin.
• Avoid excessive sun exposure because the ultraviolet rays in sunlight can cause a skin rash to flare, and may even trigger a more serious flare in the disease itself.
• Use of estrogen may induce or worsen lupus has always been a concern for rheumatologists.
• Young women with lupus baby should carefully plan their pregnancies. Avoid certain medications (such as cyclophosphamide , cyclosporine , and mycophenolate mofetil ) that would harm the baby.

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