Lupus: Coping with Lupus - Symptoms, Causes, & Long-Term Management

What is lupus?

Lupus is an inflammatory autoimmune disease that happens when the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own cells, tissues, and organs. Lupus is also a systemic disease and can affect multiple body systems including the heart, lungs, joints and even skin.

Since lupus can affect multiple organ systems, symptoms can vary significantly from person to person. However, the most common and distinctive sign of lupus is a facial rash across both cheeks that resembles butterfly wings — called a "malar rash" or "butterfly rash." Other symptoms may include fatigue, fever, joint pain, skin lesions, chest pain, shortness of breath, dry eyes, hair loss, and headaches.

Treatments focus on alleviating symptoms through medications and other methods based on your specific needs.

You should visit your primary care physician. There is no one test to diagnose lupus, and it may take months or years to make the diagnosis. There is no cure for lupus, but medicines and lifestyle changes can help control it.

Lupus symptoms

Lupus can be a very difficult condition to diagnose since cases can vary so significantly. Signs and symptoms depend on the affected body systems and may include:

• Fatigue
• Fever
• Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
• A butterfly-shaped rash on the face: This covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose.
• Rashes elsewhere on the body
• Photosensitivity: Skin lesions will appear or worsen with sun exposure.
• Raynaud's phenomenon: Fingers and toes will turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods.
• Shortness of breath
• Chest pain
• Dry eyes
• Mouth ulcers
• Hair loss
• Headaches, confusion and memory loss

Signs and symptoms can be acute (come on suddenly and quickly) or chronic (develop over a long period). The symptoms above can be mild or severe and occur in episodes called "flares" or remain permanently. Often, new symptoms can appear as well during the course of an individual's lifetime.

Complications

Inflammation caused by lupus can lead to the following complications over time that also need medical care and attention:

• Kidney damage/failure: Kidney failure is one of the leading causes of death in people with lupus.
• Vasculitis: Vasculitis is inflammation of the blood vessels.
• Cardiovascular disease: Lupus can cause inflammation around the muscles and arteries of the heart, increasing heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues.
• Neurologic disease: Lupus can result in inflammation around the brain and other effects that can result in seizures, behavior changes, headaches, and vision problems.

Lupus causes

The exact reason for why the body's immune system attacks itself in lupus is unknown. However, studies suggest that a combination of genetics and the environment trigger the development of lupus.

People with an inherited predisposition for lupus or other autoimmune diseases may develop the condition in the setting of environmental triggers such as:

• Sunlight: Lupus lesions may appear or be triggered by exposure to the sun.
• Medications: Medications for blood pressure, seizures or antibiotics can trigger lupus.
• Infections: Bacterial or viral infections can initiate lupus or result in flares.

Who is most likely to be affected

Lupus is most common in women and two to three times more common in African American women than in Caucasian women. Lupus also affects people between the ages of 15 to 45 more than other age groups.

Treatment options and prevention for lupus

There is no cure for lupus, but medicines and lifestyle changes can help control it. You will work closely with your physician and other healthcare professionals to develop a treatment plan that best fits your needs.

Goals of treatment

Goals of a treatment plan include:

• Preventing flares
• Treating flares when they occur
• Reducing organ damage

When to seek further consultation for lupus

See your physician if you develop an unexplained rash, ongoing fever, persistent aching, or fatigue.