Posted by May is Lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or SLE) awareness month, so here are some fast facts about Lupus to help you understand this autoimmune disease and how it may be affecting the chronically ill people in your life!
First of all, what is an autoimmune disease?
An autoimmune disease is a disease that occurs when your immune system begins to attack your body. Instead of only targeting and attacking harmful things like bacteria or viruses, the immune system mistakes healthy tissue for a threat. In Type 1 Diabetes, the immune system will damage the pancreas. Lupus, it can affect the whole body.
What does lupus do to the body exactly?
Lupus causes chronic inflammation throughout your body. Most commonly, lupus causes inflammation in your joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, and heart, although it can affect any organ or bodily system: central nervous system, colon, etc. Chronic (long-term) inflammation of these systems can cause deterioration and damage over time.
Who gets lupus?
Lupus is most common in Black and Indigenous Women of Color, Hispanic/Latino Women, and Asian American and Pacific Islander Women. Although Lupus can occur in any race or sex, 9 out of 10 people with lupus are women, and lupus is 2-3x more likely to occur in people within these communities (BIPOC, Hispanic/Latino, and AAPI). And, although the cause is unknown, it is more common in people with family members with Lupus or another autoimmune disease.
Is lupus contagious?
Nope! Lupus is not contagious.
What are the most common symptoms of lupus?
Lupus symptoms are very different from person to person, which can contribute to the difficulty of getting a diagnosis (most people see three different specialists over four years before getting a diagnosis). These are some of the most common symptoms:
- Skin rash, most often on the face and appears to be in the shape of a butterfly
- Joint pain and swelling
- Excessive fatigue
- Chronic low-grade fever
- Chest pain
- Headaches
- Sun sensitivity
How is lupus treated?
While there is no cure for lupus, disease activity and symptoms can be managed through a variety of treatment options.
- Aspirin
- Acetaminophen
- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (naproxen, Ibuprofen, etc.)
- Corticosteroids (cortisone or steroids like prednisone)
- Antimalarial
- Voclosporin (Lupkynis™)
- Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan®)
- Methotrexate (Rheumatrex™)
- Azathioprine (Imuran®)
- Anticoagulants
- Monoclonal antibodies (Benlysta® (belimumab, formerly called LymphoStat-B™)
Source: lupus.org
Erica Littman 