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The immune system is designed to attack
foreign substances in the body. If you have lupus, something goes wrong with
your immune system and it attacks healthy cells and tissues. This can damage
many parts of the body such as the:
-Joints
-Skin
-Kidneys
-Heart
-Lungs
-Blood vessels
-Brain.
There are many kinds of lupus. The most common type, systemic lupus
erythematosus, affects many parts of the body. Other types of lupus are:
-Discoid lupus erythematosus : causes a skin rash that
doesn’t go away
-Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus:
causes skin sores
on parts of the body exposed to sun
-Drug-induced lupus : can be caused by medications
-Neonatal lupus : a rare type of lupus that affects newborns.
Who Gets Lupus?
Anyone can get lupus, but it most often affects women. Lupus is also more
common in women of African American, Hispanic, Asian, and Native American
descent than in Caucasian women.
What Causes Lupus?
The cause of lupus is not known. It is likely that many factors trigger the
disease.
What Are the Symptoms of Lupus?
Symptoms of lupus vary, but some of the most common symptoms of lupus are:
-Pain or swelling in joints
-Muscle pain
-Fever with no known cause
-Red rashes, most often on the face
-Chest pain when taking a deep breath
-Hair loss
-Pale or purple fingers or toes
-Sensitivity to the sun
-Swelling in legs or around eyes
-Mouth ulcers
-Swollen glands
-Feeling very tired.
Less common symptoms include:
-Anemia (a decrease in red blood cells)
-Headaches
-Dizzy spells
-Feeling sad
-Confusion
-Seizures.
Symptoms may come and go. The times when a person is having symptoms are
called flares, which can range from mild to severe. New symptoms may appear
at any time.
How Is Lupus Diagnosed?
There is no single test to diagnose lupus. It may take months or years for a
doctor to diagnose lupus. Your doctor may use many tools to make a
diagnosis:
-Medical history
-Complete exam
-Blood tests
-Skin biopsy (looking at skin samples under a microscope
-Kidney biopsy (looking at tissue from your kidney under a
microscope).
How Is Lupus Treated?
You may need special kinds of doctors to treat the many symptoms of lupus.
Your health care team may include:
-A family doctor
-Rheumatologists – doctors who treat arthritis and other
diseases that cause swelling in the joints
-Clinical immunologists – doctors who treat immune system
disorders
-Nephrologists – doctors who treat kidney disease
-Hematologists – doctors who treat blood disorders
-Dermatologists – doctors who treat skin diseases
-Neurologists – doctors who treat problems with the nervous
system
-Nurses
-Psychologists
-Social workers.
The goals of the treatment plan are to:
-Prevent flares
-Treat flares when they occur
-Reduce organ damage and other problems.
What Do Pregnant Women With Lupus Need to Know?
Women with lupus can and do have healthy babies. There are a few things to
keep in mind if you are pregnant or thinking about becoming pregnant:
-Most women with lupus carry their babies safely.
-Pregnant women with lupus should see their doctors often.
-Lupus can flare during pregnancy.
-Quick treatment during a flare can keep the mother healthy.
-Doctors can help prevent flares.
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