Arthritis Site : Types Of Lupus

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the body in many different ways, from mild to fatal. Some people exhibit symptoms affecting the skin and joints, while others suffer damage to the lungs, blood, brain, tissues and kidneys. Lupus nephritis, for instance, is the inflammation of the kidneys, which affects the body's ability to filter waste from the blood, which may necessitate a kidney transplant or dialysis.

Many people suffer increased blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension) or inflammation of the heart muscle (myocarditis), which may cause congestive heart failure. Heart attacks may occur if there is a hardening of the arteries, or "central nervous system" lupus can create strokes, memory problems, confusion and headaches. The brain's blood vessels can become inflamed, creating fevers, seizures and psychosis. It's hard to calculate how quickly systemic lupus erythematosus will progress or what systems will be affected, but careful monitoring is a must.

There are five types of lupus: systemic lupus erythematosus, which affects the joints and organs; discoid lupus, which affects the skin; sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, which is characterized by skin lesions; drug-induced lupus that develops after a drug reaction; and neonatal lupus that affects newborns. Lupus signs include: fatigue, fever, weight loss/gain, joint pain/stiffness/swelling, butterfly rashes on the cheeks, skin lesions that worsen with sunlight, mouth sores, fingers and toes that turn white or blue in the cold, shortness of breath, chest pain, dry eyes, easy bruising, anxiety, depression and/or memory loss.

The Lupus Foundation says there are no two cases of lupus that are exactly alike. Signs may emerge gradually or come on suddenly, and can be mild or severe. Most people have "flare-ups" or episodes. To test for lupus, your doctor will ask you some questions, run a standard physical, take urine and blood samples and perform an electrocardiogram.

Neonatal Lupus erythematosus (NLE) is a rare disorder that occurs when autoantibodies pass from mother to baby. Only 1% of infants with positive maternal autoantibodies develop NLE. Most babies with lupus do not require treatment, but the mortality rate is roughly 20% (due to heart failure). Infants with NLE may have heart, skin or blood abnormalities. Researchers cannot prove a definitive hereditary link between systemic lupus erythematosus and they say that mothers who have SLE are no more likely to pass on the disease to children than patients who are well.

Medicine for systemic lupus ranges from anti-inflammatories, such as iboprofen or corticosteroids to antimalerial drugs, or Retin-A and hydroxychloroquine aimed at clearing up skin manifestations. Rituximab is an intravenous antibody that suppresses "B" white blood cells that sometimes sends lupus into remission. It's not uncommon for a lupus patient to undergo surgeries, transplants or other therapy, depending on the internal damage done. Unfortunately, there is no permanent cure for systemic lupus erythematosus. It's important that patients get enough rest, as poor sleep quality is a major contributing factor to depression, chronic fatigue and worsening of symptoms. Dietary supplements of Omega-3 fish oils and exercise are generally recommended for all patients.

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Today's Tip On Arthritis

The immune system is a mysterious mechanism. Like a pitbull, the immune system will guard against foreign attackers mercilessly to protect its home, and yet, it can also turn on its master, attacking it ferociously all the same. Doctors aren't exactly sure what causes the autoimmune disease called systemic lupus, but they suspect it's a murky concoction of factors. Inherited genes, UV light, hormones, viruses and drugs may all contribute to the condition. Some of the most recent Lupus Foundation research suggests that a key enzyme fails to eliminate cellular debris, which can happen as a result of a gene mutation.