Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosis belongs to the family of diseases called lupus. Lupus can manifest in many ways and is sometimes referred to as the "disease of 1000 faces", because it can present very differently in each person. Some types of lupus only affect the skin, while systemic lupus affects the skin, joints and some organs.
Lupus Symptoms
Lupus is a chronic, long-term autoimmune disease. For reasons unknown, the body's immune system becomes activated and begins to attack the body's own tissues. This immune attack produces inflammation in the body that can be variable and can occur almost anywhere in the body. It's unusual for an individual over the age of 40 to develop systemic lupus, although it never can be ruled out 100 percent. It's also an unusual condition in males - for every 10 to 15 females with lupus, there may be one male.
Common symptoms of lupus are fatigue, joint pain with or without swelling, skin rashes, hair loss, swollen lymph nodes, chest pain and sores in the mouth. In some patients, the immune system attacks the body's organs. These can include the kidneys, heart, brain or lungs. This is less common but when it does occur it can be quite serious. Lupus can also attack the body's red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Although lupus is quite variable from one person to the next, it tends to have quite a consistent pattern in individuals. Flare-ups tend to be very consistent and present in a similar way each time.
Lupus Treatment
Treatment can be quite different for every patient, depending on the organ system involved and the severity of that organ system involved. The treatments can vary from simple analgesic or anti-inflammatory agents up to very powerful amino-suppressant drugs. Treatment usually involves a combination of medications and physicial activity. The most common medications for lupus include:
• NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories)
• Prednisone
• Immune modulators such as cyclophosphamide
• Azathioprine or methotrexate
• Biologic medications
One of the most common medications rheumatologists prescribe for systemic lupus erythematosus is antimalarial medication. It reduces the exacerbations of the condition and can treat some of the more common manifestations such as skin and joint disease.
Talk to your rheumatologist if you'd like more information on lupus.
Visit HealthChoicesFirst.com for more videos and resources on arthritis.
Print this Action Plan and check off items that you want to discuss with your healthcare provider
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Some types of lupus only affect the skin, while systemic lupus affects the skin, joints and some organs.
-
It's unusual for an individual over the age of 40 to develop systemic lupus, although it never can be ruled out 100 percent. It's also an unusual condition in males - for every 10 to 15 females with lupus, there may be one male.
-
Common symptoms of lupus are fatigue, joint pain with or without swelling, skin rashes, hair loss, swollen lymph nodes, chest pain and sores in the mouth.
-
Although lupus is quite variable from one person to the next, it tends to have quite a consistent pattern in individuals. Flare-ups tend to be very consistent and present in a similar way each time.
-
The most common medications for lupus include NSAIDs, prednisone, immune modulators, azathioprine or methotrexate and biologic medications.
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Lupus
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Information - Lupus
Systemic lupus erythematosis belongs to the family of diseases called lupus. Lupus can manifest in many ways and is sometimes referred to as the "disease of 1000 faces", because it can present very differently in each person. Some types of lupus only affect the skin, while systemic lupus affects the skin, joints and some organs.
Lupus Symptoms
Lupus is a chronic, long-term autoimmune disease. For reasons unknown, the body's immune system becomes activated and begins to attack the body's own tissues. This immune attack produces inflammation in the body that can be variable and can occur almost anywhere in the body. It's unusual for an individual over the age of 40 to develop systemic lupus, although it never can be ruled out 100 percent. It's also an unusual condition in males - for every 10 to 15 females with lupus, there may be one male.
Common symptoms of lupus are fatigue, joint pain with or without swelling, skin rashes, hair loss, swollen lymph nodes, chest pain and sores in the mouth. In some patients, the immune system attacks the body's organs. These can include the kidneys, heart, brain or lungs. This is less common but when it does occur it can be quite serious. Lupus can also attack the body's red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets. Although lupus is quite variable from one person to the next, it tends to have quite a consistent pattern in individuals. Flare-ups tend to be very consistent and present in a similar way each time.
Lupus Treatment
Treatment can be quite different for every patient, depending on the organ system involved and the severity of that organ system involved. The treatments can vary from simple analgesic or anti-inflammatory agents up to very powerful amino-suppressant drugs. Treatment usually involves a combination of medications and physicial activity. The most common medications for lupus include:
• NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatories)
• Prednisone
• Immune modulators such as cyclophosphamide
• Azathioprine or methotrexate
• Biologic medications
One of the most common medications rheumatologists prescribe for systemic lupus erythematosus is antimalarial medication. It reduces the exacerbations of the condition and can treat some of the more common manifestations such as skin and joint disease.
Talk to your rheumatologist if you'd like more information on lupus.
Visit HealthChoicesFirst.com for more videos and resources on arthritis.
Print this Action Plan and check off items that you want to discuss with your healthcare provider
-
Some types of lupus only affect the skin, while systemic lupus affects the skin, joints and some organs.
-
It's unusual for an individual over the age of 40 to develop systemic lupus, although it never can be ruled out 100 percent. It's also an unusual condition in males - for every 10 to 15 females with lupus, there may be one male.
-
Common symptoms of lupus are fatigue, joint pain with or without swelling, skin rashes, hair loss, swollen lymph nodes, chest pain and sores in the mouth.
-
Although lupus is quite variable from one person to the next, it tends to have quite a consistent pattern in individuals. Flare-ups tend to be very consistent and present in a similar way each time.
-
The most common medications for lupus include NSAIDs, prednisone, immune modulators, azathioprine or methotrexate and biologic medications.