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)
Lupus affects women most commonly during their fertile years, between the ages of 15 and 44. Lupus can increase the risk of health problems in women, such as:
Common symptoms of lupus in both women and men 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
Other symptoms of lupus in both women and men may include:
- Butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose
- Hair loss
- Sores in the mouth or nose
- 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
What Causes Lupus?
How Is Lupus Diagnosed?
There is no single test to diagnose lupus. Tests that may help diagnose lupus or rule out other conditions include:
- Blood tests
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Antibody tests
- Blood clotting time tests
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and/or C-reactive protein (CRP) levels
- Complement tests
- Creatinine
- Protein electrophoresis
- ANA
- Anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA)
- Antiphospholipid antibodies (lupus anticoagulant [LA], immunoglobulin [Ig] G and IgM anticardiolipin [aCL] antibodies, and IgG and IgM anti-beta2-glycoprotein [GP] 1)
- C3 and C4 or CH50 complement levels
- Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio
- Serologic studies for infection
- Rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies
- Creatine kinase (CK)
- Urine tests
- Urinalysis
- 24-hour urine collection
- Tissue or organ biopsies
- Electrocardiography
- Tests to check for pulmonary embolism
- Diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide
- X-rays of swollen joints
- Chest X-rays
- Ultrasound
- Ultrasound
- Echocardiography
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
What Is the Treatment for Lupus?
Lupus is generally treated with medications to help manage symptoms, such as:
- Anticoagulants
- Anti-inflammatories and steroids
- Antimalarials (these help protect skin from rashes and UV light)
- Biologics
- Immunosuppressives
Other steps to 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)
- Regular exercise
- Don’t smoke
- Get vaccinated as recommended by your doctor
- Influenza vaccine
- Pneumococcal vaccines
- Quadrivalent human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine
- Hepatitis B vaccine
- Manage other medical conditions such as high blood pressure or osteoporosis
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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