What is lupus?
Lupus is a systemic and chronic rheumatic disease, that is, in addition to affecting joints and muscles, can damage the skin and almost all organs. Its base is autoimmune since it is produced by the formation of antibodies. The evolution of the disease develops in sprout phases and others in which the effects of the disease refer. Likewise, there are very severe lupus and others not as serious as those that manifest themselves with skin diseases. This pathology mainly affects women and at a time of life in which it is fertile (between 20 and 40 years). In addition, cases have been described in children and the elderly.
Causes
The cause is unknown. However, when it is an autoimmune disease there are different factors that can influence the immune system and provoke lupus. Several hypotheses have been shuffled, including genetics and the environment. Exposure to sunlight could also be a liberating factor of pathology. In fact, many individuals with Lupus have photo sensitivity to ultraviolet rays. Likewise, hormones, specifically female estrogen, can be the cause of the disease. In fact, it has been observed that contraceptive pills can accelerate their appearance in genetically predisposed women.
Symptoms of lupus
As it is a multisystemic disease affects several organs. Presents general symptoms: Easy fatigue, inexplicable weight loss, prolonged fever that is not due to any infectious process and temperature alterations. In addition, joint and muscle symptoms: are within the most frequent clinical manifestations. 90 percent of patients with Lupus suffer from pain and inflammation in the joints (arthritis) in hands, dolls, elbows, knees and feet more frequently. It is also possible that articular rigidity appears in the mornings. The condition in the skin is also frequent. The best-known injury, although not the most frequent, is the so-called & ldquo; erythema in the wings of butterfly “, which consists of a redness and eruption of the skin on the cheeks and nose.
Hair fall is also frequent when the disease is active. On the other hand, Lupus patients suffer hypersensitivity to ultraviolet rays. If the disease is exposed without protection, it can be reactivated.
When it affects the heart and lungs: the layers of coating of the heart (pericardium) and the lungs (pleura) are inflamed due to the disease. This originates pericarditis and pleuritis. Both have similar symptoms: thoracic pain and fever. On other occasions, lupus affects lungs or heart valves causing cardiorespiratory insufficiency.
When it affects the kidney: lupus always affects the two kidneys at a time. The most frequent injury is inflammation (nephritis), which sometimes prevents the kidney from adequately eliminating the agency's residues and these accumulate in the blood. Due to this inflammation, the kidney is often unable to assimilate and retain proteins. With what is eliminated by urine and a swelling of face and legs occurs.
When it affects the brain: Lupus can affect the nervous system. Although it generally has little importance, it is a problem that has to be monitored. It is manifested with headaches, depressions or situations of hyperactivity. They are very frequent demonstrations in the general population and may be due to a slight brain inflammation by Lupus or for many other circumstances. Likewise, it is possible that depression is not triggered by the disease, but because the patient is depressed by knowing that it faces this pathology, of unknown origin and that can affect so many organs of the body.
Types of lupus
- lupus erythematosus Discoid: Chronic and recurrent disease characterized by red round stains of well-defined edges on the skin.
- Systemic erythematosus lupus: autoimmune disease with episodes of inflammation in joints, tendons and other connective tissues and organs.
Diagnostics
The diagnosis is based mainly on the symptoms. The blood test can detect antinuclear antibodies, present in the vast majority of people suffering from lupus. However, these antibodies are also manifested in other diseases, so, if antinuclear antibodies are detected, tests must also be carried out in search of double-chain anti-DNA antibodies. A high value of these antibodies is specific to Lupus, although not all people suffering from this disease have such antibodies.
The kidney damage caused by lupus can be detected through blood and urine analyzes, although sometimes renal biopsy is indicated to better determine treatment.
Treatments
The treatment of the disease is very different from the organ to which it affects. Corticosteroids are considered basic treatment since all those affected at one time or another take them. If the damaged organs are the lung, the heart, the central nervous system or the kidney the treatment must be much more aggressive and is based on corticosteroids in very high doses and immunosuppressive treatments. If the disease has symptoms such as fever, fatigue or skin conditions, the treatment will be less aggressive and with corticosteroids or antimalaria. The nutrition must be complete, healthy, and balanced. There is no harmful food for the patient. On the other hand, when the disease affects the kidney and, above all, when there is a blood hypertension, patients have to know that it is not recommended that they consume salty or seasoned foods.
Other data
A few years ago I contradictied pregnancy in women who suffered the disease. However, in recent years the treatment has improved and the risks are minor. The only formal contraindications of pregnancy are when the lupus is active, if there are complications of the disease (nephritis) or if they are taking potentially harmful medications for the fetus. Likewise, the pregnant woman with Lupus has a greater risk of suffering a premature abortion or delivery. Children tend to be born healthy. However, in the first months of life can suffer skin injuries, but these refer with time.
