Disease highlight: Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects more women than men – nine in 10 occurrences are female, say experts – and it usually strikes during the reproductive ages of 15 to 45 years. 

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. In fact, it has been described as “a disease of a thousand faces” because it presents itself in several ways and in one or many parts of the body.

An autoimmune disease is where the body is unable to tell the difference between viruses, bacteria or germs and its own healthy cells, tissues or organs. Thus, it can attack and destroy these healthy ones instead of the viruses.

Lupus symptoms can differ from person to person and affect any part of the body. The condition presents itself in a number of symptoms, including:

• Muscle and joint pain
• Fever
• Butterfly rash (or malar rash) over nose and cheeks
• Increased hair loss
• Chest pain
• Light sensitivity
• Kidney issues
• Extreme fatigue
• Anaemia
• Memory problems
• Blood clotting
• Eye issues

Nine out of 10 occurrences of lupus are found in women, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the United States. And while it can strike at any time to anyone, it occurs more often in women of child-bearing age from 15 to 45 years. 

And it’s not only more women who are affected – their ethnicity plays a part. A US research study found that lupus is diagnosed in more African-American, Hispanic, Chinese, Indian and Malay women, as compared with Caucasian women.

While lupus affects women in their reproductive years, it doesn’t affect their chances of conceiving. However, the medications used to treat lupus can affect fertility. So it’s important to have a chat with your doctor about family planning.

Having lupus may also cause complications in pregnancy. “If a woman were to find herself pregnant, she should inform her rheumatologist immediately as pregnancy can cause the lupus to flare – close monitoring is essential till full-term.

As lupus can be managed, many who have the disease find that they lead full lives being armed with knowledge about the condition, being in touch with their doctors and knowing their triggers.   

1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

It is the most common and yet most serious type of lupus. It can affect many parts of the body and common symptoms include fatigue, hair loss, sun sensitivity, swollen and painful joints, fever, rashes and even kidney issues.

There are a number of tests to diagnose SLE and doctors will check on family history, personal health and request for blood and other laboratory tests.

2. Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE)

CLE is a skin disease that can affect those with or without an existing SLE diagnosis. Symptoms for CLE come in the form of rashes, sun sensitivity, hair loss and even swelling of blood vessels.

To test whether one has CLE, doctors will remove a small piece of the skin where the rashes are to do tests.

With CLE, there are sub-groups, including discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) where the red rash starts turning scaly or turns dark brown. This rash often appears on the face and scalp but may affect other areas.

DLE tends to leave scarring on the body and can even cause sores within the mouth or nose.

Having DLE may lead to having a subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) diagnosis. This type of lupus causes skin lesions on the body when exposed to the sun.

3. Drug-induced Lupus

This is when certain drugs cause symptoms which are like those of SLE. They can cause joint and muscle pains, and fever. These SLE-like symptoms are not serious and rarely affect the major organs. Once the course of medication is stopped or completed, the symptoms go away.

4. Neonatal Lupus

This is a rare condition in babies who inherit lupus from certain antibodies the mother has. These mothers are often diagnosed with lupus already but if one has lupus, it doesn’t mean that the baby will be diagnosed with it.

Conversely, an infant can have neonatal lupus even if the mother isn’t suffering from the condition. However, there is a chance that the mother may develop the condition later in life.

Symptoms of neonatal lupus may present as a skin rash, liver issues or low blood cell counts. These tend to go away without any serious or lasting side effects. However, some infants may suffer from heart defects.

CAUSES OF LUPUS

There are no direct causes of lupus. Genetics may or may not play a part either. In general, while people who have family with lupus are at risk of getting lupus, the pattern of inheritance is not as straightforward as in other diseases. 

NO WAY OUT BUT TO TREAT THE SYMPTOMS

Depending on the severity of the lupus flares, most doctors prescribe different medications that aim to bring lupus under control. Rheumatologists would give medication such as hydroxychloroquine, steroids and immunosuppressants.

But such medication isn’t forever: Once the lupus is under control, or lupus is in remission, doses are reduced.

Patients with lupus are advised to stay out of the sun as prolonged UV light exposure may trigger flare-ups. Doctors will also advise a healthy diet and lifestyle, and strategies to manage their stress.

Source:https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/women/lupus-signs-causes-treatment-autoimmune-disease-sle-cle-joint-pain-356591

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