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Imagine your body’s immune system attacking its healthy tissues rather than pathogens. That is the reality of autoimmune disorders like Lupus disease. Globally, millions of people live with these complex and confusing diseases. In this blog, we explore lupus autoimmune disease, its types, symptoms, and possible treatment options available to improve patient care and quality of life.
Types of Lupus
Lupus disease is an autoimmune condition. An autoimmune condition is characterized by the body’s immune response targeting its cells and tissues rather than pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc). Lupus disease causes inflammation of multiple organs, like skin, joints, eyes, heart, lungs, kidneys, blood cells, etc. There are several different types of lupus autoimmune disease. Each with specific symptoms and effects on the body. These include:
SLE – Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus, meaning lupus disease affects the body as a whole. It is the most common form of lupus disease. People may at times even use “lupus” and “SLE” synonymously. The exact cause of SLE is not known. The symptoms of SLE vary between patients. However, typical systemic lupus erythematosus symptoms may include:
Swollen and painful joints
Rashes on the skin (Butterfly rash on the face)
Low-grade fever
Extreme lethargy and fatigue
Swollen feet
Swelling around the eyes
CLE – Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
As the name suggests, cutaneous lupus affects the skin. There is some chance that patients with cutaneous lupus may develop systemic lupus disease later on in life. This type of lupus has other types like Discoid Lupus Erythematosus and Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus.
Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus
Medications such as Procainamide, Isoniazid, and Hydralazine may trigger lupus autoimmune disease. The symptoms are similar to SLE but less severe. Drug-induced lupus resolves once the offending medication is stopped.
Neonatal Lupus Erythematosus
Rarely, newborns of females with lupus may develop neonatal lupus erythematosus. Although the symptoms tend to resolve in a few months, the disease impacts the liver, causes skin rashes, and reduces the blood count. In extremely rare cases, neonatal lupus may lead to a congenital heart block.
What are Lupus Symptoms?
Understanding what is lupus disease is the first step in wrapping your head around its symptoms and signs. Lupus disease affects multiple organ systems in the body. The symptoms of lupus disease include:
Nervous System
Lupus causes “Lupus fog” or memory issues. Patients may suffer from headaches, fits, dizziness, paresthesia, anxiety, and depression.
Cardiovascular System
Lupus disease causes inflammation of the heart lining (pericarditis) and blood vessels (vasculitis). Patients are prone to irregular heart rhythms and a high risk of blood clots and stroke.
Respiratory System
In the respiratory system, lupus causes inflammation of the lining of the lungs called pleuritis. This leads to symptoms like difficulty breathing, cough, chest pain, etc.
Musculoskeletal System
The inflammation of the joints and muscles due to lupus leads to arthritis-like symptoms of pain, swelling, and stiffness of joints.
Immune System/Blood
The primary impact of lupus is on the immune system. Patients are more prone to develop various infections and blood cell counts decrease (leucopenia, thrombocytopenia).
Skin
Various types of lupus disease produce skin rashes all over the body. Such as the SLE butterfly rash on the face, discoid lesions triggered by cutaneous lupus, photosensitivity, etc.
Renal System
Lupus disease can cause lupus nephritis, which is a serious inflammation of the kidneys. In general, people with lupus develop swelling in their legs and feet, suffer from hypertension, and may have blood or protein in the urine due to kidney damage.
Digestive System
The digestive symptoms of lupus disease include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, pancreatitis, and hepatitis.
What Causes Lupus?
Many people wonder what lupus disease is and what its causes are. Lupus is characterized as an autoimmune disease. Due to some unknown cause, the immune system of the body is triggered, and it falsely labels the normal body tissues and organs as “foreign” and begins to attack them. The exact reason for this mislabelling is not known. Risk factors that may trigger lupus autoimmune disease or make someone more susceptible to it include:
Excessive exposure to sunlight
Infections
Certain medications (antibiotics, antihypertensives, anti-seizure meds)
Genetics
Reaction to certain hormones (Estrogen)
Pollution
Smoking
Stress and anxiety
Gender (females more than males)
Ethnicity (Blacks, Hispanics, Native Americans, Pacific islanders, etc.)
How is Lupus Diagnosed?
Lupus disease can impact many organs or organ systems in the body, which makes diagnosing this autoimmune disease particularly challenging and complex for healthcare providers. The first step for a lupus diagnosis is a detailed history and thorough examination of the patient. There is no specific blood test or scan that will confirm a definitive lupus disease diagnosis. The investigations rule out other causes that may be responsible for producing symptoms. Typical tests done for a lupus diagnosis include:
Blood tests (CBC, ESR, CRP)
Urinalysis (Kidney assessment, signs of infection)
Antibody tests (Antinuclear antibodies, Anti-dsDNA, Anti-Smith antibodies)
Complement Levels (C3, C4) – May decrease during active lupus
Imaging studies (X-ray, ECHO)
Biopsy (skin, kidney)
What is Lupus Treatment?
There is no definitive treatment for lupus autoimmune disease. However, there are effective treatment strategies available to decrease flare-ups and manage symptoms.
Medications
The medications that help decrease the intensity of symptoms and manage flare-ups of lupus disease may include:
NSAIDs – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs (To decrease pain and swelling)
Antimalarials (Hydroxychloroquine) – (Decrease the risk of a lupus flare-up)
Corticosteroids (Methylprednisolone) – (Decrease inflammation)
Immunosuppressants (Azathioprine) – Decrease the immune response
Biologics (Rituximab) – Reduce the intensity of symptoms
Self-care And Lifestyle
Self-care steps and lifestyle modification in combination with appropriate medication make the lupus disease manageable and improve quality of life. These include:
Using protective clothing and avoiding excessive sun exposure
Avoid smoking and other addictions
Regularly follow up with your healthcare provider
Adopt an active lifestyle
Eat a nutritious and well-balanced diet
Vitamin D or Calcium supplementation may help improve lupus symptoms
Autoimmune diseases like lupus are chronic and lifelong. However, that is no reason to lose hope. With a suitable combination of medications and other supportive measures, most patients live a normal and fulfilling life.
