Lupus: Meaning, Diagnosis and Overview

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune condition which means it is caused by problems with the immune system (the bodys natural defence against illness and infection) where the bodys immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy cells, tissues and organs. This can damage your joints, skin, blood vessels and organs.
The main types of lupus are:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus- SLE can affect body tissue anywhere in the body and any organ.
• Cutaneous (or skin) Lupus- usually a milder type of lupus and usually only affects the skin. There are two types of cutaneous lupus: discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), which can cause scarring; and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), which doesnot cause scars.
• Drug induced lupus- Certain medications can provoke SLE- like symptoms, which then disappear once the medications are stopped.
• Neonatal lupus- This is a rare form of temporary lupus that affects a fetus or newborn baby. It occurs when the autoantibodies of a mother with SLE are passed to child.

Recovery Time

This is a lifelong condition. With earlier diagnosis, refinements in treatments, and careful monitoring, most people with lupus can look forward to a normal lifespan.

Diagnosis

Your medical history and a physical examination done by your doctor will play an important role in making the diagnosis. Other laboratory studies such as CBC, platelet count, antinuclear antibody test, tests of kidney function, as well as joint X-rays and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, will help determine the extent of the disease.

FAQs prepared by doctor

Q1. What is lupus?
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. The immune systems job is to fight foreign substances in the body, like bacteria and viruses. However, in autoimmune diseases, the immune system is out of control and mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. Lupus is a disease that can affect many parts of the body. Lupus can involve the joints, the skin, the kidneys, the lungs, the heart, and/or the brain. There are many types of lupus- systemic lupus, cutaneous lupus, drug induced lupus and neonatal lupus.

Q2. What is a flare-up in lupus?
When lupus symptoms appear, it is called a "flare-up". These signs may come and go. You may have swelling and rashes one week and no symptoms at all the next. You may find that your symptoms flare after you have been out in the sun or after a hard day at work.

Q3. Can a person lead a normal life with it?
Yes definitely, since lupus is a lifelong condition. With earlier diagnosis, refinements in treatments, and careful monitoring, most people with lupus can look forward to a normal lifespan.

Q4. When shall one consult a doctor?
One should consult a doctor when there is chest pain or pressure, or a strange feeling in the chest, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting. Sudden numbness, tingling, or weakness in joints and blurred vision are the other symptoms which require immediate attention. Pain, pressure, or a strange feeling in the back, neck, jaw, or upper belly, over one or both shoulders or arms are the other bothering symptoms.

Q5. What are the complications in pregnancy in lupus?
Complications occurring during pregnancy include: pre-eclampsia, miscarriage, stillbirth, premature delivery.