Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus General Information

The immune system is one of the most important components of our organism because it protects the body from harmful agents, for example toxic substances, viruses, fungi or bacteria. When a person deals with an auto immune disorder it means that he or she has a problem with the normal body’s immune system. In patients diagnosed with an immune deficiency, the immune system can not differentiate anymore the harmful agents from the healthy ones, leading to an overactive immune response that attacks all the cells and tissues, even if they are healthy or not. The result is a long-term (chronic) inflammation.

Auto immune disorders are very challenging, both for the patient and for the doctor because they require intensive careful medical care. One of the most common diseases of such kind is SLE or Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, a chronic inflammatory disease that damages the patient’s blood vessels, kidneys, liver, skin, liver, joints, lungs, CNS (central nervous system), as well as other important major organs. This type of immune disorder can be mild or may reach to severe stages, where it can cause the death of the patient. People of any age can be affected by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, but more prone to develop it are those between 10 and 50 years old. It is also well known that SLE affects much more women than men and that Asians, Americans or African Americans are affected more often by this medical condition than people from other races. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is usually treated with immunosuppressants and corticosteroids.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of an immune disorder may come and go suddenly and vary from patient to patient because it depends mainly on the strength of the immune system. If you suffer from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or from other type of immune disorder, it is important to know as much as possible about them. In this second part of our presentation we will enumerate some of the most common signs and symptoms experienced by almost all the patients. Because our list may not be complete, we advise you to contact your health care provider or any other trained specialist in these types of medical conditions.

Usually, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus affects firstly only one organ or body system. Other major components may be involved later. Most people diagnosed with this type of auto immune disease known as SLE experience severe joint pain and will eventually develop arthritis. The most frequent joints that are affected include: wrists, fingers, hands or knees. Different parts of the patient’s heart may have inflammations, causing endocarditis, pericarditis or myocarditis. These medical secondary conditions result in arrhythmias and pain felt in the chest area. Besides these, people may also accuse one or more of the following general signs and symptoms: tiredness, swelling of the joint, seizures, muscle aches, fever, sensitivity to sunlight, pleural effusions, swollen glands, ill feeling (malaise), general discomfort, nausea and vomiting, skin rash, pleurisy or psychosis. Some additional symptoms may be experienced only by some patients: visual disturbances, nosebleed, mouth sores, hair loss, coughing up blood etc.  

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treatment

Immune disorders are very hard to treated and challenging to diagnose. If they are not discovered in time, they can easily cause the death of the patient, in a matter of months. An early diagnosis followed by a proper and rapid treatment significantly increases the chances for a full recovery, in a short period of time. We strongly advise you to call your health care provider or any other trained specialist as soon as you start experiencing any of the signs and symptoms that we have listed above and are specific for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

The health care provider sets the diagnosis if the patient is experiencing at least five out fifteen typical manifestations. After asking about the signs and symptoms that exist, the doctor will listen to the chest of the patient with a stethoscope. If the respective patient suffers from this type of medical condition, the doctor may hear a sound called a pleural friction rub or heart friction rub. The tests that are usually done to diagnose SLE are: CBC (complete blood count), chest X-ray (that show marks or pericarditis or pleuritis), kidney biopsy, ANA (antinuclear antibody) panel or urine analysis that will reveal the presence of protein, blood or casts in the patient’s urine. Other tests that can be altered by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus are: rheumatoid factor, anti-smooth muscle body, WBC count, mononucleosis spot test, cryoglobulins, anti-thyroid microsomal antibody, ESR, serum protein electrophoresis, Coombs’ test etc. After the doctor receives the results of these tests and if they indicate the patient suffers from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, he must proceed immediately with a treatment.

Because this immune disorder has no cure, any treatment option aims to control and to relieve the existent signs and symptoms. Usually, the therapy depends mainly on what are the symptoms experienced by each person in particular. Mild forms of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, involving headaches, pleurisy, arthritis, rash, pericarditis or fever, need little to no therapy. NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) may sometimes be used to resolve one or more of these manifestations. To treat skin rashes, doctors may choose to prescribe creams based on corticosteroid. Low doses of corticosteroids in combination with Hydroxychloroquine (an anti-malaria medicine) are administrated in certain cases. If the symptoms are more severe or may threaten the patient’s life (for example hemolytic anemia, kidney diseases or major lung and heart involvement) the treatment must be assured by a rheumatologist or other specialist in the area.

While some health care providers choose to prescribe medications that decrease the response of the immune system or corticosteroids, others use certain drugs that block the growth of cells (called cytotoxic drugs). The prescription must be followed strictly and as the doctor recommended. Also, try to avoid losing a dose or overdosing, because otherwise you may develop more severe adverse effects that interfere in the process if healing and delay the patient’s recovery. Before taking any medicine do some allergy testing to check what substances are not suitable for you. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a challenging disease that requires careful medical care.