Lupus: Symptoms, Causes, and Management

Systemic lupus erythematosus, generally called lupus, is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system starts attacking the tissues resulting in inflammation and organ damage. The affected organs include the lungs, heart, kidneys, blood cells, nervous tissues, joints, and skin.

Lupus is a chronic condition, mostly diagnosed between 14 and 45 years of age. It affects African, Indian, and Asian ethnic groups more than White Americans. Lupus is more prevalent in women than men, but severe organ damage has been associated with men of African and Asian ethnicities. The disease progresses slowly and gradually with periods of worst symptoms (flare-ups) followed by a period of wellness when it goes into remission.

Symptoms of Lupus

The symptoms of lupus may vary from person, depending on the severity of the disease and the area of the body affected. The common symptoms of lupus are as follows:

• Morning stiffness and swollen joints
• Feeling exhausted all the time
• Fever, headaches, dizziness, and confusion
• Sensitivity to sunlight and skin rashes
• Sores in the nose or mouth
• Pain associated with breathing due to inflammation in the lungs or heart.
• Heart and kidney problems
• Low red blood cells and white blood cells
• Seizers and memory problems if lupus is affecting the brain.

Check also the symptoms of Sjögren’s Syndrome.

Types of Lupus

Lupus can be classified into the following subtypes:

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): It is the most common type with 70% of lupus cases. It affects multiple organs throughout the body. Its primary symptom is inflammation of multiple body organs.
• Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE): It is also called cutaneous lupus as it only affects the skin. Its primary symptoms include circular lesions on the face or scalp. Sometimes lesions can appear in other parts of the body such as inside the ears. People suffering from DLE can develop systemic lupus as the disease progresses.
• Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (SCLE): It is a type of cutaneous lupus. It affects the parts of the skin exposed to sunlight. Its primary symptoms are skin lesions and skin discoloration after exposure to sunlight.
• Drug-Induced Lupus (DIL): Some medicines can induce lupus-like symptoms after long-term intake. Over 100 drugs have been recognized to cause DIL including antibiotics (e.g., minocycline) and blood pressure medicines (e.g., hydralazine). DIL can go away after stopping the medicines.
• Neonatal Lupus (NL): It affects newborns if the mother has antibodies for lupus or Sjogren’s syndrome (even without symptoms). The antibodies can pass through the placenta and can trigger neonatal lupus. Its primary symptoms include skin rashes and liver problems.

Causes of Lupus

Like other autoimmune conditions, lupus is caused by an overactive immune system when it starts attacking its own body cells and tissue. The exact reason why the immune system starts attacking its own body cells and tissues is unknown, but certain factors can trigger the immune system.

• Genetics: People can inherit lupus susceptibility genes from their parents. Besides, some MHC genes (major histocompatibility complex) affect the ability of the immune system to differentiate between self and foreign proteins, consequently, leading to the development of lupus.
• Sunlight: Excessive exposure to sunlight can trigger lupus in people susceptible to developing lupus.
• Viral Infections: Some viral infections can imbalance the normal immune response and lead to lupus.
• Medicines: Extended intake of certain medications (high blood pressure medicines, antibiotics, etc.) can trigger drug-induced lupus.
• Inflammatory Responses: If the body fails to recycle the dead cells the immune system can trigger inflammatory responses and start attacking its own tissues.

Living with Lupus

Lupus can be managed through treatments as recommended by the healthcare professional and through self-care to minimize organ damage and reduce symptoms flare-ups. One can follow self-care routines like avoiding sunlight, staying active, and regular sleep to manage how lupus affects day-to-day life.

Stress is directly linked to symptoms flare-ups in autoimmune conditions. Avoiding mental and physical stress can reduce the severity of disease in some people. Keep a journal to monitor factors such as food, weather, and medicines that trigger the symptoms. Many foods can immune irritants. Visit your healthcare provider at regular intervals to monitor the disease progression and to manage symptoms.