Lupus is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system becomes
hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. This results in
symptoms
such as inflammation, swelling, and damage to joints, skin, kidneys,
blood, the heart, and lungs.
Under normal function, the immune system makes proteins called
antibodies in order to protect and fight against antigens such as
viruses and bacteria.
Lupus makes the immune system unable to differentiate between antigens
(a substance capable of inducing a specific immune response) and healthy
tissue. This leads the immune system to direct antibodies against the
healthy tissue - not just antigens - causing swelling, pain, and tissue
damage.
Fast facts on lupus
Here are some key points about lupus. More detail and supporting information is in the main article.
- Lupus is an autoimmune disease - it is caused by problems in the body's immune system.
- The type that we refer to simply as lupus is known as systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE.
- Other types of lupus include discoid (cutaneous), drug-induced, and neonatal.
- According to the Lupus Foundation of America, 1.5 to 2 million Americans have some form of lupus.
- It is also said that 5 million people worldwide suffer from some form of Lupus.
- Women are diagnosed 9 times more often than men and usually between the ages of 15 and 45.
- Risk factors include exposure to sunlight, certain prescription medications, infection with Epstein-Barr virus, and exposure to certain chemicals.
- Most Doctors believe that lupus results from both genetic and environmental stimuli.
- Environmental factors include extreme stress, exposure to ultraviolet light, smoking, some medications and antibiotics, infections and the Epstein-Barr virus (in children).
- Symptoms of lupus include achy joints, swelling of hands and feet, fever, fatigue, skin lesions, rash, anemia, chest pain, light sensitivity, hair loss and more.
- Treatments for Lupus include corticosteroids, immunosuppressive drugs and lifestyle changes.
- There is currently no cure for lupus.
What are the different types of lupus?
Swelling of the hands can be a symptom of lupus. Photo © St Thomas' Lupus Trust
Several different kinds of lupus have been identified, but the type that we refer to simply as lupus is known as systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE. Other types include discoid (cutaneous), drug-induced, and neonatal.
Patients with discoid lupus have a version of the disease that is
limited to the skin. It is characterized by a rash that appears on the
face, neck, and scalp, and it does not
affect internal organs. Less than 10% of patients with discoid lupus
progress into the systemic form of the disease, but there is no way to
predict or prevent the path of the
disease.
SLE is more severe than discoid lupus because it can affect any of
the body's organs or organ systems. Some people may present inflammation
or other problems with only skin and
joints, while other SLE sufferers will see joints, lungs, kidneys,
blood, and/or the heart affected. This type of lupus is also often
characterized by periods of flare (when the
disease is active) and periods of remission (when the disease is
dormant).
Discoid lupus. Photo © St Thomas' Lupus Trust
Drug-induced lupus is caused by a reaction with certain prescription
drugs and causes symptoms very similar to SLE. The drugs most commonly
associated with this form of
lupus are a hypertension medication called hydralazine and a heart
arrhythmia medication called procainamide, but there are some 400 other
drugs that can also cause the
condition. Drug-induced lupus is known to subside after the patient
stops taking the triggering medication.
A rare condition, neonatal lupus occurs when a mother passes
autoantibodies to a fetus. The unborn and newborn child can have skin
rashes and other complications with
the heart and blood. Usually a rash appears but eventually fades within
the first six months of the child's life.
Who is affected by lupus?
According to the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), 1.5 to 2 million Americans have some form of lupus.
The prevalence is about 40 cases per 100,000 persons among
Northern Europeans and 200 per 100,000 persons among African-Americans.
Although the disease affects both males and females, women are diagnosed
9 times more often than men,
usually between the ages of 15 and 45. African-American women suffer
from more severe symptoms and a higher mortality rate.
Other risk factors include exposure to sunlight, certain prescription
medications, infection with Epstein-Barr virus, and exposure to certain
chemicals.
You have just read an article category Lupus /
Tips
with titles What is Lupus?. You can bookmark this page with a URL http://worldcorner21.blogspot.com/2015/03/what-is-lupus.html. Thank you! regards
By : WorldCorner21 ► Any kind of around us What is Lupus? - Saturday, March 28, 2015 by URL http://worldcorner21.blogspot.com/2015/03/what-is-lupus.html