Lupus Erythematosus

Lupus erythematosus is a disorder which may involve only the skin, or it may involve many parts of the body, including the kidneys. Lupus can happen at any age, but is most common in women, certainly of non- European descent. is an autoimmune disease. This means there is a difficulty with the body's normal immune system response. It can influence any part of the body, but most often affects the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and nervous system.

The course of the disease is mercurial, with periods of illness alternating with remission. Habitually, the immune system helps protect the body from harmful substances. But in patients having an autoimmune disease, the immune system can't tell the variation between harmful substances and healthy ones.

Symptoms differ from person to person, and may come and go. The condition may affect one organ or body system at first. Others may become involved later. Roughly all people with lupus erythematosus have joint pain and most develop arthritis.

Many women with lupus note which symptoms may be worse after ovulation and better at the initiating of the menstrual period. Estrogen has been criminated in making the condition worse and this problem is currently being studied. Some scientists suppose that the immune system in lupus is more easily stimulated by external factors like viruses or ultraviolet light.

Occassionally, symptoms of lupus can be precipitated or aggravated by only a brief period of sun exposure. Symptoms generally resolve within several days to weeks after stopping the medication. It is necessary not to restart the culprit medication at a later time, as symptoms will usually recur. Abnormal antibodies may endures for months or years despite remission.

Treatment is targeted at regulating symptoms. Your individual symptoms determine your treatment. Mild disease which involves a rash, headaches, fever, arthritis, pleurisy, and pericarditis requires little therapy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are used to cure arthritis and pleurisy. Corticosteroid creams are used to treat skin rashes.

Causes of Lupus erythematosus

The exact reason for the abnormal autoimmunity which causes lupus is not known. Inherited genes, viruses, ultraviolet light, and drugs may all perform some role. Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is a reversible condition which generally occurs in patients being treated for a long-term illness. Drug-induced lupus mimics systemic lupus. Genetic factors aggrandize 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.

Common causes and risk factors of Lupus erythematosus:

Genetic and environmental factors.
Hypersensitivity reaction to a medication.
Stress.
Different elements may trigger the disease in different people.
Sunlight or ultraviolet light.

Signs and Symptoms of Lupus erythematosus

Symptoms differ from person to person, and may come and go. Occassionally, symptoms of lupus can be precipitated or enhanced by only a brief period of sun exposure. People having lupus often feel extremely tired. The condition may effect one organ or body system at first. Others may become involved later. About all people with lupus erythematosus have joint pain and most develop arthritis. Typically affected joints are the fingers, hands, wrists, and knees. The fatigue experienced by lupus patients is not the normal tiredness you might feel after physical exertion or exercise.

Sign and symptoms may include the following :

Sensitivity to sunlight.
Blood in the urine.
Numbness and tingling.
Abdominal pain.
Blood disorders, including blood clots.
Nausea and vomiting.

Treatment for Lupus erythematosus

Mild disease of lupus erythematosus desires little therapy. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are used to cure arthritis and pleurisy. Steroid use is related with a number of complications including psychiatric disturbances, increased susceptibility to infection, fragile bones, cataract formation, diabetes and worsening of existing diabetes, high blood pressure, thinning of the skin, puffiness of the face, and avascular necrosis. Corticosteroid creams are used to treat skin rashes. Severe or life-threatening symptoms often require treatment by a rheumatologist and other specialists in the specific area.

Treatment may include:

Mild disease that involves a rash, headaches, fever, arthritis, pleurisy, and pericarditis desires little therapy.
Corticosteroid creams are used to treat skin rashes.
Alternatively, the calcineurin inhibitors, pimecrolimus cream or tacrolimus ointment may be used. Imiquimod has also been coveraged to be helpful in a few patients.
An anti-malaria drug called hydroxychloroquine and low dose corticosteroids are sometimes used for skin and arthritis symptoms.
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications are used to treat arthritis and pleurisy.

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