What is lupus?
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, known as lupus or S.L.E.
for short is a connective tissue disease, which means it affects
tissues throughout the body. Lupus commonly affects the skin, joints,
heart, kidneys, lungs and occasionally the brain.
The name of the disease in Latin means wolf, this
is because of the red rash that most people develop across the bridge
of their nose and cheeks.
There
is another form of lupus called
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (D.L.E.), which
usually only affects the skin. This type is less serious and causes
itchy red patches or lesions on the skin. These rashes usually occur on the face and neck but
can appear on the palms of hands, soles of feet, scalp, elbows and
fingertips.
Lupus
mainly
affects women of childbearing age (between 18 and 50), though on
rare occasions men and children can also be affected. Lupus is not contagious.
What causes lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means there
is a fault in the body's immune
system. Normally, the body produces certain chemicals called
antibodies, which help the body fight infections, such as viruses.
However, if you have an autoimmune disease, your
body's immune system attacks its own cells and tissues. In lupus these antibodies, known as auto-antibodies
are produced in large amounts causing the inflammation of tissues throughout the body.
Scientists don't know what actually causes lupus,
however, the following may play some role in triggering its development
or triggering off another attack:
- Viral infections.
- Woman's hormonal changes, such as puberty or the menopause
- Severe stress.
- Excessive sunlight.
- Long term use of certain drugs, for example
Hydralazine used to treat high
blood pressure.
What are the symptoms of lupus?
The symptoms of lupus vary in each person and they
will also depend upon which organs in the body are affected. The
symptoms of lupus may come and go and might include any of the following:
- Skin rashes, especially one across the nose
and cheeks. This rash is usually painless
and might be aggravated by sunlight.
- Ulcers that don't always cause pain, inside
the mouth or nose.
- Pain or swelling in the joints. The knees,
elbows, wrists, hands and ankles are the joints most commonly
affected. Most people with lupus will suffer joint pain.
- Hair loss (alopecia).
- Fever.
- Headaches.
- Sensitivity to sunshine.
- Sjögren's syndrome - which causes dry
eyes and a dry mouth.
- Raynaud's phenomenon - which causes poor
circulation in the hands and toes making them feel feel numb and
change colour (blue) in the cold weather.
- Miscarriage - one specific and important
cause of this is 'sticky blood' also known as Hughes Syndrome
(click
here for more information on Hughes syndrome).
- Anaemia
- Fatigue.
- Depression.
- Loss of appetite.
Lupus can be a serious disease causing inflammation
and damage to the joints, skin and major organs, such as the heart,
lungs and kidneys. If lupus is severe the kidneys can become inflamed,
this rarely causes any pain, though you may experience high blood
pressure. If left untreated the inflammation can cause kidney failure.
If the lining of internal organs, such as the heart and lungs become
inflamed you may experience sharp chest pains, shortness of breath
and coughing. On rare occasions the brain
tissue can be affected and this can cause personality changes, seizures or even a stroke.
How is lupus diagnosed?
As lupus has many different symptoms
and can resemble other illnesses, such as rheumatoid
arthritis and multiple
sclerosis it can be hard to diagnose. Your doctor will
examine your medical history and then you may be required to have
a number of tests. As the rash across the face is a common symptom
of lupus, you will probably be asked if you have had any rashes.
Tests that you might have include blood tests, chest
x-rays and you may have to give a urine sample, to check for any
damage to the kidneys. You may also be required to have a kidney biopsy.
The blood tests measure the amount of auto-antibodies in your blood
and will detect 90% of people suffering with lupus, the antibodies
are called:
- Antinuclear antibody (ANA) - this is a simple
test but is not specific for lupus.
- DNA antibodies - this blood test is specific
for lupus, the presence of these antibodies are the hallmark of
lupus and are rarely found in any other condition.
- Antiphospholipid antibodies - this test is
associated with Hughes syndrome and patients with high levels
will have an increased tendency of clotting in the veins and arteries
(thrombosis).
How is lupus treated?
For most people, lupus will be just a
mild disease affecting only a few organs but for some it can be
quite serious. There is no actual cure for lupus, however, there
is a large range of treatments available to reduce inflammation
and so helping relieve symptoms.
Drugs used in the
treatment of lupus may include, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
drugs (N.S.A.I.D.s) to reduce inflammation around the joints and
relieve pain and corticosteroids. Corticosteroids, relieve the inflammation
of internal organs and so prevent them from becoming damaged. Corticosteroids
may be taken as tablets or in severe cases can be given via injection
directly into the veins. If you have skin rashes you may also be
prescribed a steroid cream. There are other types of drugs available,
such as antimalarial tablets, your doctor will discuss all options
with you.
If you have lupus you should avoid excessive
sun exposure as ultraviolet light can make the disease worse. Once
treated, the majority of people with lupus can lead relatively normal
lives.
Related topics
|
