Symptoms and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus

2024 Author: Curtis Blomfield | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 20:44

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a rather serious disease, but you should not immediately set yourself up for the fact that a person's life is over. Most often, girls and women are at risk, less often men and children. More recently, this disease was equated to fatal and incurable, and a person, having lived only five years, died, but today it is quite possible to overcome this pathology, it is enough to get acquainted with the main symptoms and treatment.

Why does lupus occur?

International Classification of Diseases (ICD) classifies systemic lupus erythematosus as an autoimmune disease.

Naturally, no pathology occurs by itself, so it is worth considering the main causes. Systemic lupus erythematosus may occur in the following cases:

1. First of all, people who like to sunbathe suffer.
2. If a person during his lifeis in constant stressful situations.
3. Illness occurs due to hypothermia.
4. Excessive exercise may also cause lupus.
5. Diseases such as measles, influenza, rubella can eventually lead to complications in the form of lupus.



6. The disease can also be transmitted by heredity, for example, if one of the relatives has already encountered this problem.

Neither doctors nor scientists can say exactly why a disease occurs, sometimes several causes are required for the manifestation of a disease.

What is disease?

Systemic lupus erythematosus has several classifications, and each stage of this disease is accompanied by its own symptoms and features.

1. The disease can manifest itself in an acute form, in which case all symptoms appear very quickly.
2. There is also a subclinical onset of the disease, when symptoms appear gradually and are not always recognized at the initial stage.

Lupus erythematosus can flow in different ways. If all the symptoms began to appear quickly, then they cannot be overlooked, so patients can say exactly at what period of time they noticed that they were sick. The first symptoms that accompany the disease are associated with fever and unpleasant pain in the joints. There is such a thing as a subacute course of the disease, in which case a sick person may not immediately notice that he is sick, andsometimes even think that he is developing a common cold, until the characteristic rashes begin on the skin.

No less dangerous is the chronic manifestation of systematic lupus erythematosus, but with such a course, the prognosis for treatment is considered the most favorable, since the processes occurring in the body do not cause lightning-fast harm, but develop gradually, which means they can be treated.

Manifestations

If a person develops systemic lupus erythematosus, symptoms may include:

1. Most often the main blow falls on the joints, so almost 90% of all sick people suffer from arthritis. It may be that all the joints become inflamed at the same time, and it may also happen that the pains are wandering. The problem is that the disease affects the small joints, so the pain radiates to the muscles.
2. Skin rashes are considered characteristic. The face begins to blush, first of all, redness appears near the cheekbones and on the nose. Redness can also be observed on other areas of the skin, for example, on the neck, arms, legs and décolleté. Over time, the redness may disappear, and not even a trace will remain, but it can periodically appear, for example, from exposure to sunlight.
3. Along with characteristic skin, hair problems can also occur, for example, hair loss begins, nails change, they become brittle or, conversely, resemble plates affected by a fungus.
4. A disease like systemic lupus erythematosusthe symptoms and complications of which should not be underestimated in the future, it also affects the internal organs. Sick people need to pay special attention to the cardiovascular system, lesions of the lungs and kidneys are different in nature, but the most important thing is damage to the central nervous system, and a person can remain disabled forever.

If there is a suspicion of a disease, then it is worth noting that the patient, in addition to the listed symptoms, may notice the following changes in the body: constant weakness appears, the person becomes irritable and suffers from frequent headaches, sleep is disturbed, in especially severe cases be intermittent convulsions.

How to diagnose a disease?

To determine for sure that a patient has a disease such as systemic lupus erythematosus, diagnosis must include a large number of tests. First of all, the doctor should pay attention to such signs:

1. Rashes on the face, which are most localized in the nose and cheeks.
2. Skin peeling, which can leave scars behind.
3. Sores can form in the mouth.
4. The lesions of small joints and the development of the inflammatory process in them are clearly expressed.



5. Any other abnormalities in the functioning of internal organs.

Of course, an external examination of the patient will not be enough, so additional tests are scheduled. Systemic lupus erythematosus isit is precisely the disease that is unlikely to be diagnosed by eye, because it can easily be confused with any other pathology associated with joint damage. All patients first of all turn to a therapist, who prescribes a huge number of tests, here are the main ones:

1. You will definitely have to take a complete blood count.
2. Ultrasound of the internal organs is prescribed.
3. The lungs and joints are x-rayed.
4. Liver and rheumatoid tests are taken for arthritis and rheumatism.

The therapist, after conducting all the tests, will be able to accurately determine whether a person has systemic lupus erythematosus (ICD-10 - M.32). Often the disease is severe, and most likely the patient will be referred for treatment to a rheumatologist.

Additionally, other doctors can be involved in therapy, for example, it can be: a dermatologist, nephrologist, pulmonologist and immunologist.

How should someone with lupus behave?

Some people who have been diagnosed with lupus erythematosus for some reason decide that life ends there, but it’s not, it’s enough to keep yourself in a good mood and set yourself up to fight this disease, as a person can immediately feel better. Let's take a look at the top tips to follow to ease your general condition:

1. First of all, you need to carefully listen to your body, for example, if you are very tired, you should lie down and rest, you may need todevelop a special daily routine. If the human body is working for wear and tear, then soon a relapse should be expected.
2. Be sure to get acquainted with all the signs of the disease, especially with how they can manifest themselves during an exacerbation. Do not expose yourself to stress and depression, you should avoid excessive sun exposure. A common cold or even eating foods that are prohibited can cause an exacerbation.
3. If systemic lupus erythematosus appears in children, then there is a need to give the child feasible physical activity, for example, from childhood, the baby can play calm sports, you can choose swimming.
4. Adults need to get rid of bad habits, do not smoke or drink alcohol.
5. We must set ourselves up for the fact that the disease can be defeated, even if it is not completely cured, but to make it stop developing, for this treatment must be carried out by a qualified doctor with extensive experience.

Relatives and friends in this case should support the patient. Only by feeling supported, it will be possible to say that it will be easier for a person to cope with this problem psychologically, which means that it will be possible to avoid unnecessary stress and depression. It should be clearly understood that systemic lupus erythematosus is not a death sentence.

Foods to Avoid

You can keep your body in order if you eat right, which is why doctors advise not to eat certain foods if a personwas diagnosed with lupus erythematosus. Consider the main dishes that you should generally exclude from your diet:

1. A sick person should forget about fatty foods forever, you should not visit fast foods, where butter, vegetable and olive oil are used for cooking. Such food can cause serious problems with the cardiovascular system.
2. If a diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus has been made, the recommendations also exclude the use of various drinks, for example, it is forbidden to drink strong tea, coffee and anything that may contain caffeine.
3. S alt intake is also considered dangerous, so all food should be with a limited amount of it. The fact is that s alty foods can put a huge strain on the kidneys, which are already affected by the disease, and this, in turn, will also provoke an increase in blood pressure.
4. A patient with lupus erythematosus should generally forget about drinking alcohol. All alcoholic beverages are harmful on their own, but when combined with such a disease, the harm from them can be three times greater.

Despite the fact that the disease is one that requires special attention and is not yet fully understood, systemic lupus erythematosus can occur in different forms, and some features of the disease have already been studied by scientists. In this regard, the nutritionist may make some exceptions, such as allowing a cup of coffee to be drunk once a week, but each patient must clearly understand that a lot depends on him.

Lupus Erythematosus Diet

Except for prohibited foods,listed above, there are others to include in your daily diet:

1. It is important to make sure that vegetables and fruits are always present on the table of a sick person. They contain a huge amount of minerals and fiber. Not only can these meals be he althy, but they are also relatively economical on the budget.
2. It is worth making sure that there are foods that contain vitamin D and calcium in the diet. The fact is that lupus erythematosus can cause a complication in the form of osteoporosis, and with the help of these nutrients this problem can be prevented.
3. You should strive to ensure that a sick person consumes more fermented milk products, such as kefir, cheese, sour milk.
4. If you eat he althy cereal cereals, you can provide your body with vitamin B.
5. In no case should you deprive a sick body of protein, because it is he who helps to cope with the disease. Therefore, many doctors recommend that patients eat meat, but which does not contain fat. Chicken, veal, turkey and rabbit are ideal for this. Perfect for eating and fish, for example, you can eat herring, tuna, pink salmon.
6. For a person who is sick with systemic lupus erythematosus, it is important to properly develop a drinking regimen. It is advisable to drink at least eight glasses of liquid per day. It is forbidden to drink sodas. Only purified water will help to improve the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract.

When a patient is diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus,clinical guidelines also play an important role.

How to treat lupus erythematosus?

We can definitely say that it is almost impossible to completely cure the disease, but it is quite possible to stop the processes that destroy internal organs and bones, for this you should carefully listen to your body and follow the recommendations of doctors. As soon as a person has the first symptoms and suspicions arise that he has systemic lupus erythematosus, tests can immediately either confirm the suspicions or refute them, here you definitely can’t do without specialists. The main goal of treatment is to suppress the body's autoimmune response. As a rule, patients can be prescribed the following drugs:

1. A sick person must be prescribed glucocorticosteroids. With lupus erythematosus, it is impossible to do without hormonal drugs. The fact is that it is with their help that it is possible to remove the inflammatory process and suppress the immune system. Thanks to the use of these drugs, doctors managed to significantly extend the life of their patients, so today the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus without glucocorticosteroids does not make sense. A person who carefully follows all the doctor's recommendations and constantly monitors the intake of these drugs will be able to increase the periods of remission, which makes the patient's general condition stable. First of all, doctors can prescribe to the patient the use of a drug such as Prednisolone. Some experts say that there are cases when hormones may not work. This happens if the patient is constantly taking drugs, the dosage was chosen incorrectly, or the treatment was started too late, when the disease had already passed into a severe stage.



It is not uncommon for a woman or child to refuse to take hormonal drugs because they affect weight or may cause other side effects. But before taking such a risky step and refusing to take medication, you should carefully study all clinical recommendations. Systemic lupus erythematosus is not treated without hormones. Naturally, taking them can also cause such side effects as: stomach ulcers, increased pressure and increased blood sugar, but this will have to be fought in parallel.

2. Doctors must prescribe cytostatics to their patients. Such drugs are prescribed in parallel with hormonal drugs, they also help to suppress the immune system. Cytostatics are recommended in particularly complex courses of the disease, for example, when the disease develops very quickly, internal organs are involved in the process, and dependence on hormonal drugs appears. Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus with cytostatics can be carried out using the following agents: Azathioprine, Cyclophosphamide. Taking these medicines will help reduce symptoms, hormone dependence will disappear, and disease activity will decrease.
3. The patient is prescribed non-steroidal drugs aimed at relieving inflammation. Tablets are allowed to take Diclofenac.

Sometimes an additional patientplasmapheresis is prescribed. During this procedure, metabolic products that provoke inflammation are removed from the blood of a sick person.

Preventive measures

Basic preventive measures are aimed at preventing relapses. In many cases, you can simply determine that a person has systemic lupus erythematosus. A photo of the face of such a person can easily betray this disease, but if the patient is being treated, then such signs may not be noticed. Key preventive measures include:

1. You should be constantly monitored by a specialist and take all tests on time.
2. Never skip your prescribed medications without your doctor's permission.
3. To be able to properly allocate your time, develop a regimen for when the body should rest and when to work.
4. Make sure you sleep well.
5. Adhere to a special diet and eliminate many unhe althy foods from food.
6. Be outdoors more, get fit and exercise.
7. If there are skin lesions, then special ointments containing hormonal substances should be used.
8. Avoid prolonged exposure to the sun and use sunscreen for protection.

Using correctly all of the above recommendations, it will be possible to prevent the development of such a disease as systemic lupus erythematosus. Photographs of the facial skin of many sick people who are successfully undergoing treatment are no different from those of people who do not have this terrible disease.

Forecasts

Modernmedicine gives chances to patients to live to a ripe old age. Naturally, a prognosis can only be made when it becomes known at what stage the disease is, and also how successful the treatment will be. Complications that may arise can never be ruled out, but all doctors agree that the chronic form is the easiest to treat, when all symptoms can be removed with drug therapy. In this case, you can give a very positive forecast. Systemic lupus erythematosus is not treated, but is maintained in remission. If the correct treatment regimen was selected, then after the diagnosis is established, a person can live for more than twenty years. With this disease, many people lead quite a full life and continue to work quietly in production. Of course, if the disease proceeds in a more complex form, when a person experiences severe pain in the joints, it will not work, then the state provides disability, but in any case, you should not lose faith in the best, only this way there is a chance to live longer. Doctors also say that a lot depends on the mood of the patient himself, he must be positive, the person must be ready to fight the disease, and one should not lose self-confidence, unnecessary stress and depression can only aggravate the patient's general condition.