The appearance of spots or rashes on the body raises anxiety and fear in the patient and everyone around him. When lupus is mentioned, some people panic and begin to wonder about the causes of this disease, whether it is contagious, and how it can be treated. In this article, you will find your comprehensive guide to lupus. 

What is lupus erythematosus and its effect on the body

It is an autoimmune disease, which is a chronic, non-contagious disease that occurs as a result of the patient's immune system attacking his body's cells, which leads to these cells becoming infected with inflammation. 

Lupus can affect different parts of the body, such as the skin, kidneys, heart, joints, etc., and in some cases causes permanent tissue damage. 

Types of lupus erythematosus

There are different types of lupus, which are as follows:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus: It is the most common type of disease that affects most of the various organs and systems of the body.
• Cutaneous lupus: It is a type of lupus. Its effect is limited to the skin and appears in the form of a rash in the parts where the skin is constantly exposed to sunlight.
• Drug-induced lupus: The patient develops it as a result of taking a specific drug, as a result of the body’s exaggerated reaction to this drug. Symptoms usually appear 3 to 6 months after starting to take the drug, but they disappear once the drug is stopped.
• Neonatal lupus: It is a rare type of lupus that occurs in infants and newborns as a result of the infant acquiring autoantibodies from a mother suffering from lupus.

Common symptoms of lupus erythematosus and how to recognize them

There is a great deal of variation in the severity of lupus symptoms and their development from one patient to another. Symptoms may appear suddenly or gradually, and may be mild or severe. They may also be permanent or temporary in other cases. Symptoms vary depending on the affected body systems, and include the following:

• General exhaustion and extreme fatigue.
• Pain, stiffness and swelling of the joints
• Hair loss.
• Weight changes: either increase or decrease.
• الحمى.
• آلام في العضلات.
• Sores in the mouth and nose.
• The appearance of spots or rashes.
• Chest or abdominal pain.
• Swollen lymph nodes, such as those in the neck, armpit, or groin.
• Poor kidney function.
• Sensitivity to the sun or light.
• Inflammation or dryness of the eye.
• Headache and memory loss.

There are also so-called attacks of lupus erythematosus, which most sufferers go through, as they suffer from periods in which the severity of the symptoms increases and then other periods in which the symptoms improve or disappear completely. 

Lupus erythematosus attacks are often preceded by warning signs. Therefore, they can be prevented or treated quickly to make them less severe after discovering these warning signs. These signs include the following:

• Feeling more tired than usual.
• صداع حاد.
• Feeling general pain in the body.
• دوخة.
• ظهور طفح جلدي.
• ارتفاع درجة حرارة الجسم.
• ألم المعدة.

In general, it is difficult to distinguish between the symptoms of lupus erythematosus and the symptoms of some other diseases without going to the patient for diagnosis. The doctor can diagnose lupus after hearing the patient’s complaint, then clinical examination and conducting comprehensive medical examinations to accurately diagnose the disease. These examinations may include:

• Blood tests to measure the level of antibodies in the blood. 
• Taking a skin biopsy for examination. 
• Performing some imaging tests to evaluate the condition of the internal organs and joints, such as X-rays and magnetic imaging 

Causes of lupus erythematosus and associated risk factors 

So far, no studies have confirmed the existence of an accurate and specific cause of lupus. Rather, doctors indicate that it is the result of the interaction of a group of genetic and environmental factors.

• Genetic factors

The patient has some genes and a family history of lupus that make him more susceptible to developing the disease in the presence of environmental triggers. 

• الجنس

Studies indicate that women are more susceptible to developing lupus erythematosus due to the presence of the hormone estrogen, and the severity of symptoms may increase as the hormone rises during pregnancy and the menstrual cycle. 

• العوامل البيئية

Studies indicate that there are some triggers that increase the risk of developing lupus, especially when there is a genetic factor, such as:

•  Infection with some viruses, such as herpes. 
• Constant psychological and physical tension and stress. 
• Use of certain medications, such as epilepsy medications.
•  التدخين. 
• Exposure to ultraviolet sunlight for long periods. 
• Dealing with some chemicals such as mercury. 
• The presence of hormonal problems, especially in women. 
• There is a defect in the patient's immune system. 

Health complications of lupus erythematosus

Complications of lupus erythematosus result from neglecting treatment for the disease, as the body’s immune cells begin to attack all of the body’s organs, and complications begin to appear depending on where the immune cells attacked as a result of tissue damage. The most important health complications of lupus erythematosus include the following:

• Kidney problems: This is a serious and life-threatening complication of lupus erythematosus. The destruction of kidney cells leads to resorting to... غسيل الكلى Or a new kidney transplant. 
• Heart problems: Lupus causes inflammation of the membrane and lining of the heart or arteries, which increases the risk of clots and heart attacks. 
• Brain and nervous system problems: Symptoms such as headache, dizziness, convulsions, and strokes appear. 
• Lung problems: symptoms such as shortness of breath, cough, and pneumonia. 
• Skin problems: the appearance of a rash or red spots on the skin. 
• Bone and joint problems: joint swelling and pain during movement. 
• Blood problems: anemia, low platelets, and increased incidence of clots. 
• Eye problems: cataracts, vision loss.  

What are the treatment options for lupus?

After the doctor diagnoses lupus, treatments for this disease aim to control the symptoms and reduce their severity, and reduce and protect other body organs from attacking the immune system. There is no specific treatment for lupus, but treatment options include the following:

• Pain relievers such as ibuprofen and naproxen.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as corticosteroids. 
• Immunosuppressants such as azathioprine and cyclophosphamide.
• Antimalarials such as hydroxychloroquine.

Following some general steps and guidelines will also help reduce the recurrence of lupus erythematosus attacks, alleviate the severity of symptoms, and assist in the treatment plan, for example:

• Follow a healthy and balanced diet.
• Take adequate rest and regulate sleep hours. 
• Quit smoking.
• ممارسة الرياضة بانتظام.
• Reduce stress and psychological tension and try to use relaxation techniques. 
• Avoid exposure to direct sunlight, use sunscreen, and wear a hat for protection. 

Book your consultation now at مركز الجلدية والتجميل At Al Mousa Specialist Hospital and learn about the appropriate treatment plan for you 

Does lupus affect the daily life of the affected person?

Of course, lupus erythematosus greatly affects the lives of patients, and the severity of the effect varies from one person to another, and this depends on the severity of the disease, symptoms, and affected organs.  But in general, these effects appear in:

• Constantly feeling tired and exhausted, even after performing the simplest tasks, which forces the patient to reduce working hours and take frequent vacations. 
• Difficulty moving and feeling pain due to swelling of the joints and muscles. 
• Suffering from skin allergies, the appearance of skin rashes that cause embarrassment, and psychological problems such as depression, which affects. 
• Suffering from problems with various body systems based on where the immune cells are attacked.
• Sexual life: Problems such as vaginal dryness in women or constant pain affect sexual desire and the ability to have sex. 

Can lupus be hereditary?

Certainly, genetics plays an effective role in lupus, but there are other factors involved, as not everyone with a family history of lupus will develop the disease.

Also, lupus is not transmitted directly from parents to children, but genetics plays a role in susceptibility to the disease and sensitivity to environmental factors that trigger the onset of the disease, compared to other people. 

Can lupus erythematosus be prevented? 

There is no direct method or apparent reason to prevent lupus. However, the prevention methods that we mentioned above in detail can be taken with the aim of reducing the incidence, by avoiding triggers such as: sunlight, stress, smoking, and lack of sleep.

In conclusion, despite the seriousness of lupus and its significant impact on the lives of those affected, with commitment to appropriate treatment and self-care, people with lupus can live a largely normal life.

We at Al Mousa Specialist Hospital provide the best means of early diagnosis and treatment of lupus erythematosus. You can call and book a consultation immediately on our numbers listed on the website for more details. 

المصادر والمراجع:

American College of Rheumatology – rheumatology

Lupus Foundation of America – lupus

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases – niams