Lupus: What Is It and How Do You Manage It?
Our expert: Dr. Halina Aksyonova
If you have ever watched the television series House, you might remember how patients with strange sets of symptoms were first checked for lupus. How does lupus get diagnosed, and most importantly how is it managed?
What is lupus?
Lupus is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissues of the body for an extended time. It attacks not just one organ, but many. Since the skin manifestations of the disease resemble wolf bite marks, it was called Lupus erythematosus in Latin. Most often it is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that is commonly referred to, although there is also neonatal, cutaneous, and drug-induced lupus erythematosus.
Lupus affects about 5 million people in the world.
What’s the cause?
Lupus affects people between the ages of 15–45, predominantly women. There’s no known cause. There is no lupus gene, but there are about 30 sites of genes of the immune system called “failures” that are associated with a predisposition to the disease. It can develop due to infections, stress, poisoning with toxic substances, or changes in hormonal background.
How do you know if you have lupus?
Unfortunately, you can’t know on your own. Since Lupus affects many organs, the symptoms are different for everyone. Often a diagnosis cannot be made for several years, because lupus mimics the symptoms of many other diseases. Typically, doctors begin to suspect lupus if a patient has 4 out of the following 11 symptoms:
- A butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks — common, but not always present
- Red patches on the skin
- Photosensitivity, including rashes on the skin from the sun
- Ulcers on the mucus membranes of the mouth or nose
- Inflammation of the tissues of the heart and other internal organs
- Pain and swelling in two or more joints
- Kidney problems confirmed by urine and blood tests
- Seizures, balance problems, and other neurological problems
- Low blood cell counts
- Immunologic abnormalities
- Detection of antinuclear antibodies in the blood (ANA test)
Other signs of the disease include constant fatigue, headache, low body temperature, hair loss, and chest pain when breathing. Symptoms can come on suddenly or slowly, be mild or severe, or go away for a while then worsen again.
How to live with lupus
According to statistics, 10–15 % of people die from complications of the disease, especially those who are diagnosed with lupus too late, when it has already managed to significantly damage the body. With early detection of the disease and proper supportive therapy, most people live normal lives, such as singer Selena Gomez.
The main goal of treatment is to relieve symptoms, reduce the number of exacerbations, and prevent organ damage. Patients have to take medications for life which can include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antimalarials, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressors. They also have to undergo regular tests, carefully monitor their health indicators, and lead a healthy lifestyle.
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