Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)

What is lupus? Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that has the ability to damage mostly any part of the body like the skin, joints, and various organs in the body. There are four types of lupus: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus, Drug-induced Lupus Erythematosus, and Neonatal Lupus. An individual’s genes might increase the chance of getting lupus. But that only happens if specific environmental factors starts the disease or causes a flare. The environmental factors that can trigger lupus are: ultraviolet rays from sun or fluorescent light bulbs, sulfa drugs(increases an individual’s sensitivity to the sun, antibiotic drugs, an infection, cold, an injury, emotional stress, and
anything else that adds stress to the body. The sex hormone estrogen can also lead to lupus. Since women produce more estrogen, lupus symptoms are more common before menstrual periods. Lupus does occur in some families especially when one identical twin has lupus; this increases the chance of the second twin to acquire lupus also. Lupus can be hereditary but there are many cases of lupus developing in an individual even when the family history was clear from any signs of the disease.

What is drug-induced lupus? Drug-induced lupus can be compared fairly similar to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Drug-induced lupus is caused by the reaction to a medication. The drug that is consumed reacts with cell materials and it causes the body to form antibodies. The antibodies then attack the healthy cells of the body. Men and women are both equally affected by drug-induced lupus. Some of the symptoms of lupus can be: fatigue, fever, weight loss/gain, mouth sores, hair loss, shortness in breath, chest pain, dry eyes, anxiety, depression, and memory loss. The symptoms that are associated with lupus can happen either suddenly or slowly. The damage that is caused can also be temporary or permanent. People should immediately see a doctor when there is an unknown rash, continuous fever, or constant fatigue. Lupus is diagnosed by eleven common criteria: malar rash, discoid rash, photo sensitivity, oral ulcers, arthritis, kidney disorder, neurological disorder, inflammation around the lining of lungs or heart, blood disorder, immunologic disorder, and abnormal blood work. An individual who shows at least four of these criteria have lupus. Doctors use these criteria to confirm that a person has lupus from the signs that have been listed in the criteria.

As of today, there is no cure for systemic lupus. But there are various types of treatments that are designed to alleviate symptoms and protect organs from failure. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are used to decrease inflammation and pain in muscles and various parts of the body. Another effective medication would be hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) which is an anti-malarial medication. The medication is for systemic lupus patients and it is effective in stopping flare-ups when it is taken on a regular basis. Plaquenil has also been found to thin the blood in patients which reduced the number of abnormal blood clots. For patients with severe systemic lupus (damaged internal organs), cytotoxic drugs are used to suppress immunity. But taking cytotoxic drugs causes side effects like the increased risk of infection, bleeding, and may lead to kidney malfunction. What a lupus patient can do to prevent flares is that they should have a healthy diet, exercise on a daily basis, and protect themselves from the sun at all times. There is still hope for lupus patients because the Lupus Research Institute (LRI) has increased the speed of discovery by putting more effort and money to find as much information to come up with a cure for lupus. About $22 million have been invested into the LRI. There are about 220 scientists that are currently working at LRI, trying their best to find a cure. It is more possible to find a way to prevent lupus through the field of genetics. Scientists have found a few connections of lupus with 10 to 1,000 genes. Scientists are getting closer to finding a cure for lupus but it just takes time and money. Hopefully, more information will be gathered to make a cure and someday lupus will be easy to get rid of just like a virus by using a vaccine.

**Always take medical advice from your doctor, NOT from Internet sources. This is just for common knowledge.***


Bibliography
1.http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webarticlesnet/templates/new_learnunderstanding.aspx?articleid=2232&zoneid=523
2. http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000446.htm
3. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/lupus/DS00115/DSECTION=symptoms
4. http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=43293&page=2
5. http://www.medicinenet.com/systemic_lupus/page4.htm
6. http://www.hsahealth.org/publichealth/pages/healthResources/healthwire/2002/09c.html
7. http://www.disabled-world.com/health/autoimmunediseases/lupus/future-hope.php
8. http://www.niams.nih.gov/About_Us/Mission_and_Purpose/lupus_plan.asp