Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own organs and tissues, causing inflammation and pain, commonly in the skin, joints, and internal organs such as the heart and kidneys, though it can affect any part of the body.
The different types of lupus include:
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Most common and most serious type
- Affects all parts of the body
- Cutaneous lupus erythematosus
- Affects only the skin
- Drug-induced lupus
- Short-term; caused by certain medicines
- Neonatal lupus
- Affects newborn babies (rare)
Eleven common symptoms of lupus include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Joint pain or swelling
- Swelling in the hands, feet, or around the eyes
- Fever
- Headache
- Sensitivity to light
- Chest pain when inhaling deeply caused by inflammation in the lining of the lungs
- Butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose
- Raised red patches on the skin
- Sores in the mouth or nose
- Arthritis in two or more joints, plus swelling or tenderness
Other symptoms of lupus may include:
- Seizures or other nerve problems
- Hair loss
- Fingers and toes turning white or blue and feeling numb when exposed to cold or stress (Raynaud’s disease)
- Weight loss
- Muscle pain
- Skin lesions
- Blood clots, which can lead to stroke or seizures
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Respiratory problems
- Neurologic and psychiatric problems
- Blood abnormalities
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Eye problems
- Excess protein in the urine
How Is Lupus Diagnosed?
Tests used to help diagnose lupus or rule out other conditions include:
- Blood tests
- ANA
- Anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA)
- Antibody tests
- Antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant [LA], immunoglobulin [Ig] G and IgM anticardiolipin [aCL] antibodies, and IgG and IgM anti-beta2-glycoprotein [GP] 1)
- Blood clotting time tests
- C3 and C4 or CH50 complement levels
- Complement tests
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Creatine kinase (CK)
- Creatinine
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and/or C-reactive protein (CRP) levels
- Protein electrophoresis
- Rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies
- Serologic studies for infection
- Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio
- Urine tests
- Urinalysis
- 24-hour urine collection
- Tissue or organ biopsies
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- X-rays of swollen joints
- Chest X-rays
- Electrocardiography
- Ultrasound
- Echocardiography
- Tests to check for pulmonary embolism
- Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide
What Is the Treatment for Lupus?
Lupus is usually treated with medications to help manage symptoms, such as:
- Anti-inflammatories and steroids
- Antimalarials (to help protect skin from rashes and UV light)
- Biologics
- Immunosuppressives
- Anticoagulants
Home treatment that may help patients manage symptoms of lupus include:
- Sun protection
- Dietary modifications
- Some patients may need increased calories
- Daily multivitamin
- Vitamin D supplementation
- Salt restriction in patients with high blood pressure (hypertension) and/or kidney inflammation (nephritis)
- Don’t smoke
- Exercise regularly
- Vaccination as recommended by your doctor
- Influenza vaccine (flu shot)
- Pneumococcal vaccines
- Quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
- Hepatitis B vaccine
- Manage other medical conditions such as high blood pressure or osteoporosis
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Reviewed on 1/31/2022
References
Image Source: iStock Images
https://www.lupus.org/
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/epidemiology-and-pathogenesis-of-systemic-lupus-erythematosus?search=What%20Causes%20Lupus%3F&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H7
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-systemic-lupus-erythematosus-in-adults?search=Lupus&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H2215760526
https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/basics/women.htm
https://www.lupus.org/
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/epidemiology-and-pathogenesis-of-systemic-lupus-erythematosus?search=What%20Causes%20Lupus%3F&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H7
https://www.uptodate.com/contents/clinical-manifestations-and-diagnosis-of-systemic-lupus-erythematosus-in-adults?search=Lupus&source=search_result&selectedTitle=1~150&usage_type=default&display_rank=1#H2215760526
https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/basics/women.htm