Lupus is one of the main autoimmune diseases. These diseases occur when the body’s defense system (the immune system) gets “confused” and does not differentiate between harmful particles (viruses, bacteria and other foreign substances called antigens) and its own cells or tissues, and produces antibodies against “itself”. These antibodies are called “autoantibodies” and are responsible for the disease.
According to the EPISER study carried out by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (SER), there are about 10 cases of lupus per 100,000 inhabitants in Spain.
Causes of lupus
The cause of systemic lupus erythematosus is still unknown today. But it is known that there are a number of factors, studied in rheumatology, that play a role in its appearance:
- Genetic factors. They appear more frequently in case of having certain genetic markers and when there is a family history.
- Environmental factors (viral agents). They cause alteration of the immune system leading to the appearance of autoantibodies. In addition, ultraviolet light and some medications can trigger disease outbreaks.
Lupus mainly affects women (9 out of 10 sufferers are women), and certain ethnic groups (African Americans, Hispanics and Asians). It can appear at any age, but most often begins in youth, so early diagnosis is extremely important.
Lupus: Symptoms
Lupus may be located exclusively in the skin (“cutaneous lupus”), but often affects many organs or systems simultaneously (skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs): it is called “systemic lupus erythematosus”. It can cause inflammation in the joints (arthritis), but also in other organs (pleuritis, pericarditis), and can be the cause of less specific manifestations such as fever, fatigue, oral thrush or hair loss (alopecia).
It is a chronic disease, in which organ involvement persists for a long period of time or even for life. It usually presents with flares or periods of disease activity, while other periods are of inactivity or remission.
The difficulty of diagnosing lupus
The manifestations of lupus are very varied, it can be said that no two patients have the same symptoms and each person has a different pattern of disease. This makes diagnosis can sometimes be difficult.
It is therefore very important that, if there is any suspicion of having this disease, the patient is referred to a rheumatologist, as a medical specialist in this type of disease. Diagnosis is based on the presence of suggestive clinical manifestations and is completed with specific tests for autoantibodies, blood alterations (decrease in lymphocyte, platelet or red blood cell counts), urine proteins and, if necessary, biopsy of certain organs such as the kidney.
Treatment of lupus
There is no single treatment for lupus: the type of drugs to be used depends on the manifestations that occur. Therefore, it can vary greatly from one patient to another, and even in the same patient at different times of the disease.
The treatment usually received by all patients is the so-called antimalarial drugs due to their proven long-term benefit in keeping the disease inactive. It is also a general measure for everyone to avoid sun exposure, recommending the use of photoprotectors.
Is it possible to prevent lupus?
There is no way to prevent the onset of the disease. However, early diagnosis and treatment and surveillance to detect outbreaks of activity are essential in order to avoid serious complications. It is important to note that today the vast majority of patients can lead a virtually normal life with minimal side effects, despite having to take chronic treatments on a regular basis.