This is another autoimmune disorder that attacks your own body. It causes inflammation in many areas; skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs and blood cells.
There are 4 main types of lupus: systemic, discoid, drug-induced, and neonatal. Systemic is the most common, and unfortunately, the most serious form of lupus.
Signs and symptoms of Lupus vary with the organ system that is affected. Also, onset of symptoms vary as well, from sudden to slow, they can be temporary with periods of inactivity, or continuous and permanent. It makes the diagnosis difficult, and frustrating.
Symptoms: (most common)
Fatigue
Weight loss or gain
Joint pain
Stiffness
Skin rash
Hair loss (allopecia)
Raynaud’s phenomenon - fingers/toes turn blue or white with cold
Memory loss
Risk factors:
Women more than men
African American, Hispanics, and Asians
Epstein-Barr virus - common virus, linked to chronic fatigue
Chemical exposure - mercury, silica, tobacco smoke
Medications - chlorpromazine, procanimide ,hydrazine
Complications:
Kidney damage/failure
Cognitive dysfunction - confusion, memory problems
Vasculitis - blood vessel problems
Heart - endocarditis, pericarditis, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
Infection - decrease immune response
Cancer - increase correlation with non-hodgkins lymphoma
Pregnancy risk - increase risk of miscarriage
Tests:
Facial rash- malar rash (butterfly)
Scaly rash - discoid
Sun related rash
Mouth sores - painless
Joint pain/swelling/stiffness
Kidney disease
Heart disease
Anemia
Neurological problems - seizures, psychosis
Lab tests - ANA, double stranded anti-DNA, anti-Sm, anti-phospholipid, false positive syphilis
The American College of Rheumatology states an inclusion of at least 4 of the 11 criteria above may mean you have Lupus. Since the criteria does not need to present all at the same time, diagnosis may be difficult. It is important to discuss the symptoms you have now, and in the past to get the most accurate diagnosis. Unfortunately, laboratory data is not reliable. You can have different levels of these antibody tests, depending on your body's response on any given day. I recommend having these tests done in series to increase your chance of capturing a positive response.
Since this is an autoimmune disease, the treatment can vary from patient to patient. There are several different treatment protocols available. Only you and your doctor can plan the appropriate treatment for your individual symptoms. The medications have been shown to improve lifestyle, symptoms, and quality of life. Not long ago, the diagnosis of lupus was extremely poor. With the new medications, and therapies available, someone who is diagnosed with lupus can lead a fairly normal life. It is expected to have periods of flares and remission, so knowing the triggers to avoid will be beneficial in the long run.
Triggers:
Minimize sun exposure - use sunscreen
Get adequate rest
Regular exercise
Don't smoke
Eat healthy - fruits and vegetables
Smart living reduces flares, and increases quality of life.