About Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder affecting over 1.5 million Americans, according to The Lupus Foundation of America. Over 90 percent of people with lupus are women and the disease occurs most frequently during a woman's childbearing years. Early diagnosis and treatment are important in controlling the disease and easing symptoms.

Identification

• Lupus occurs when a person's immune system creates antibodies that attack tissues rather than protecting the body from viruses and bacteria. The symptoms of lupus are often similar to those that occur in rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis. There is no test available that can definitively confirm the presence of lupus and a diagnosis is based on a medical examination, symptoms and medical history.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of lupus include joint pain and swelling, ulcers in the mouth, anemia, low blood platelet count, low white cell count, a rash from sun exposure, fingers or toes that look blue or white after exposure to the cold, pleurisy, a butterfly-shaped rash on the face or extreme fatigue despite getting plenty of sleep.

Diagnosis

• After conducting an examination and taking a complete medical history, your doctor may suggest that you have several blood tests. Results of the blood tests will provide important information on whether there is a change in your kidney function, liver enzymes, red and white cell count and platelet count and whether there are signs of inflammation in your body. Your urine will also be tested. Your doctor may want to take a skin or kidney sample to biopsy and may suggest an anticardiolipin antibody test. If this antibody is detected, it could increase your risk of blots clots and increase the risk of miscarriage. It is not unusual for it to take several years to receive a lupus diagnosis, due to the difficulty in diagnosing the disease.

Treatment

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are used to treat fever, joint and chest pain and reduce swelling. If over-the-counter strength NSAIDs don't work for you, your doctor may recommend stronger forms available only by prescription. COX-2 inhibitors, such as Celebrex, may be prescribed instead of NSAIDs. These drugs treat the same symptoms but have fewer gastrointestinal side effects. Antimalarial drugs may also be prescribed. Doctors think that these drugs work by suppressing the body's immune response system. Corticosteroids may be used if other drugs don't work. Corticosteroids work to rapidly reduce inflammation, but because of the drug's potency, the lowest effective dosage is used and long-term use can result in weakened bones, high blood pressure, infections, excessive hair growth and cataracts. Methotrexate may be used in severe cases and patients whose central nervous systems or kidneys are affected by lupus may benefit from an immunosuppressive medication. These drugs work by halting or reducing the production of some immune cells and may reduce the incidence of flares.

Flares

• Flares occur when symptoms resume after being dormant for a period of time. In some people, all it takes is exposure to the sun to trigger a flare. A cold or infection can also trigger symptoms, as can stress. Signs of an impending flare may include fatigue, pain, rashes, fevers, headaches, stomach problems and dizziness. Prompt treatment of flares, combined with plenty of rest, can help reduce the length and severity of the flare.