Lupus

Lupus

Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, SLE) is a chronic connective tissue disease that causes inflammation (inflammation) and affects various tissues in the body. Lupus causes many different symptoms and can be difficult to detect.

What is Lupus?

Lupus, also called Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), is a recurrent inflammatory disease and an autoimmune disease, which means that the body begins to produce antibodies that further "attack" its own, healthy cells. In an autoimmune disease, the body "attacks" itself, by mistake. Why this happens is still not known.

Lupus is a connective tissue disease that causes inflammation (inflammation) and affects various tissues in the body. The most common places affected are:

• Skin

• Mucous membranes

• Kidneys

• Joint

• The nervous system

• Blood-forming tissue

The course of the disease in lupus

Lupus is a chronic disease, which means that it will not be able to disappear again once it has arisen. Nevertheless, many people with lupus experience only mild symptoms and a mild course of the disease, without serious damage to organs and tissues.

Some people experience more serious symptoms, especially in the kidneys or brain, and in such cases the disease requires treatment with immunosuppressive drugs.

Causes of lupus

The cause of lupus is still unknown. Nevertheless, there are certain factors that can be important for the development of the disease and the activation of the immune system in an inappropriate way:

• Hereditary factors

• Infections in the body

• Some types of drugs

• Hormonal conditions

• Smoking

• Strong sunlight

Symptoms of lupus

Lupus causes many different symptoms and the disease picture is therefore somewhat unclear and complex. However, the most common symptoms of lupus are:

• Early signs of illness: fatigue, lethargy, reduced appetite and weight loss.

• Lymph nodes on the neck and in the armpits are enlarged.

• Changes in the skin; red and blotchy rash especially on areas of skin exposed to light such as the face, cheeks, neck and hands.

• Characteristic butterfly rash on the cheeks.

• Ulcers on mucous membranes, for example in the mouth.

• Increased hair loss.

• Pain and swelling in joints.

• Vascular inflammation.

• Nervous disorders.

• Kidney inflammation.

• Epilepsy (in lupus of the central nervous system).

• Severe mental illness (in lupus of the central nervous system).

Treatment of lupus

There are several lifestyle changes and measures you can take yourself to limit the disease and its course:

• Avoid strong sunlight; stay in the shade as much as possible and use sunscreen with a high sun factor.

• Prevent cardiovascular disease; be physically active, eat a healthy and varied diet.

• Avoid smoking and stop smoking.

Medicines for lupus

There are no drugs that can cure the disease. The purpose of treatment and use of drugs in lupus is therefore to limit the development of the disease and reduce symptoms and discomfort.

As pain relief and reduction of inflammation, pain-relieving drugs containing paracetamol (Paracet, Pinex and Panodil), or anti-inflammatory drugs, also called NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen (Ibux and Ibumetin), naproxen (Naproxen) and diclofenac (Voltarol and Voltaren) can be used.

The malaria drug hydroxychloroquine is commonly used as basic treatment. The medicine has a good effect on both skin and joint symptoms, as well as protecting against blood clots and atherosclerosis. Cortisone tablets are also often used in active disease.

In the case of pronounced symptoms and a more active disease, there may be a need for treatment with, among other things, immunosuppressive drugs or biological drugs.