Systemic lupus erythematosus: symptoms, drugs, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is systemic lupus erythematosus?

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or commonly abbreviated as SLE is a type of lupus that causes inflammation in almost all organs of the body, such as joints, skin, lungs, heart, blood vessels, kidneys, nervous system, and blood cells. SLE is the type of lupus that most people experience.

Most people with SLE can carry out daily activities without problems with routine medication.

SLE can occur in an elevated stage to be life threatening. The disease must be treated by a doctor or a team of doctors who have special expertise in treating patients with the condition.

How common is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?

SLE is one of the most common types of lupus. This disease can be experienced by anyone indiscriminately, whether children, adults, the elderly, or men or women.

Even so, various studies say that women are more likely to get SLE than men.

Women with lupus can get pregnant safely and most of them will have normal pregnancies and healthy babies. However, all women with lupus who get pregnant are likely to go through high-risk pregnancies.

Symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?

Basically, the symptoms of lupus can vary from person to person depending on the age, severity of the disease, medical history, and the patient's overall condition. In addition, the symptoms of lupus can usually change over time.

However, there are some typical signs and symptoms of lupus that you may be able to observe and be aware of. Here are some of the typical signs and symptoms of SLE:

Limp, lethargic, and weak
Joint pain and swelling or stiffness, usually in the hands, wrists and knees
Have red rashes on parts of the body that are frequently exposed to the sun, such as the face (cheeks and nose)
Raynaud's phenomenon causes fingers to change color and become painful when exposed to cold
Headache
Hair loss
Pleurisy (inflammation of the lining of the lungs), which can make breathing painful, accompanied by shortness of breath
When the kidneys are affected it can cause high blood pressure and kidney failure

The symptoms of SLE mentioned above may look similar to the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore, if you have concerns about a particular symptom, consult your doctor.

Your doctor may order a series of tests to confirm an accurate diagnosis.

When should I see a doctor?

There are many diseases associated with immune system disorders but SLE is one of the most common.

You should check with your doctor if you have unexpected red rashes, persistent fever and pain in any organs, or often feel unusually tired.

Cause

What causes systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?

In fact, until now the cause of SLE is still unknown. However, experts suspect that heredity and environment can increase the risk of developing SLE.

People who are frequently exposed to the sun, live in an environment contaminated by the virus, or are frequently under stress are more likely to develop this disease. Gender and hormones are also thought to be part of the cause of SLE.

SLE is a disease that women are more likely to experience than men. Women are also more likely to have lupus symptoms that worsen during pregnancy and menstrual periods.

Both of these are what make experts believe that the female hormone estrogen plays a role in causing SLE. However, much research is needed to prove this theory.

Yes, many researchers suspect that the hormone estrogen plays a role in the development of lupus.

Risk factors

Who is at risk for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?

Factors that increase your risk of developing SLE are:

Gender, because lupus tends to be more common in women
Frequent sunbathing or prolonged exposure to the sun
Have a history of autoimmune diseases
Take certain medications. This disease can be triggered by several types of anti-seizure drugs, blood pressure drugs and antibiotics. People who have drug-induced lupus usually have their symptoms disappear when they stop taking the drug
Although SLE can occur in people of any age, it is most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40

Having no risk factors doesn't mean you can't get this disease. These factors are for reference only. You should consult your doctor for more details.

Complications

What complications can occur with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?

SLE can affect a person's life in the short and long term. Early diagnosis and effective treatment can help reduce the effects of SLE and increase the chance for better bodily function and quality of life.

Lack of access to health facilities, late diagnosis, lack of effective treatment, and non-adherence to therapy can increase the detrimental effects of SLE, lead to multiple complications and an increased risk of death.

The disease can limit the physical, mental and social functions of the sufferer. This limitation can affect their quality of life, especially if they experience fatigue. Fatigue is a common symptom that affects the quality of life for people with this condition.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention calls many studies using work as a measure to determine the quality of life for people with the disease, because work is central to a person's life.

Several studies have shown that the longer people have SLE, the less likely they are to be part of the workforce. On average, only 46% of people with SLE reported working.

Lupus nephritis

Some people with SLE have abnormal deposits of cells in their kidneys. This can lead to a condition called lupus nephritis.

People with this problem may develop kidney failure. They may need dialysis or a kidney transplant.

A kidney biopsy is needed to detect the extent of kidney damage and help guide treatment. If active nephritis is present, treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, including high-dose corticosteroids along with cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate is required.

Other parts of the body

SLE can also cause damage to many parts of the body, such as:

Blood clots in veins in the legs, lungs, heart, brain, and intestines
Destruction of red blood cells or anemia of long-term (chronic) disease
Fluid around the heart (pericarditis) or inflammation of the heart (myocarditis or endocarditis)
Fluid around the lungs and damage to lung tissue
Pregnancy problems, including miscarriage
Stroke
Intestinal damage with pain and abdominal obstruction
Very low blood platelet count (platelets are needed to stop bleeding)
Inflammation of blood vessels.

SLE and pregnancy

Both SLE and some medications to treat SLE can be bad for the fetus. Talk to your doctor before you become pregnant. If you want to get pregnant, find a doctor who has experience dealing with lupus and pregnancy.

Diagnosis

What are the tests for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?

The doctor can make a diagnosis from a medical history, physical examination, and laboratory examinations. X-rays may also be done by the doctor.

Laboratory tests include blood sedimentation rate (ESR), complete blood cell count (CBC), antinuclear antibody (ANA) and urine.

The ANA test shows a stimulated immune system. While most people with lupus have a positive ANA test, most people who test positive for ANA do not have lupus.

If your ANA test is positive, your doctor may recommend that you do a more specific antibody test.

The doctor may also perform a more specific anti-DNA test to determine the progression of the patient's LES. The doctor may also recommend that the patient consult a rheumatologist (joint specialist) for further diagnosis.

You may also be asked to do other tests so your doctor can learn about your condition. The examinations include:

Complementary components (C3 and C4)
Antibodies to double-stranded DNA
Direct Coombs – Cryoglobulin test
ESR and CRP
Kidney function blood tests
Liver function blood test
Rheumatoid factor
Imaging tests of the heart, brain, lungs, joints, muscles or intestines.

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?

SLE is a chronic autoimmune disease. That is, this condition will be owned by the sufferer for life. The good news is, the symptoms of SLE can be relieved by the right treatment.

To remember, lupus attacks in different ways for each person. So, the treatment and medication that will be prescribed by the doctor will be different according to the needs of each patient. In mild cases of lupus, medications can include pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Yes, anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are often first given by doctors as first aid. Your doctor may also prescribe prednisone, which works faster to reduce symptoms.

If the above remedies are not helping enough, a doctor-prescribed disease-modifying drug may help. These drugs include hydroxychloroquine, methotrexate, azathioprine, and cyclophosphamide.

How to prevent and treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)?

Some of the lifestyle changes and home remedies you can take to treat SLE are:

Quit smoking

Smoking increases your risk of cardiovascular disease and can worsen the effects lupus has on your heart and blood vessels.

Eat a healthy diet

Healthy diet such as fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Sometimes you have to limit your diet, especially if you have high blood pressure, kidney damage or digestive problems.

Get regular exercise

Exercise can help you recover from rash, reduce your risk of heart attack, help fight depression and promote general well-being.

Avoid sun exposure

Ultraviolet rays can trigger red rashes, wear protective clothing (such as hats, long sleeves and trousers) and use sunscreen that contains SPF whenever you go outside.

Get enough rest

People with lupus often experience prolonged fatigue that is different from normal fatigue and does not necessarily go away with rest. So get plenty of rest at night and take naps or rest during the day if needed.