Sign-in to HealthcareMagic
Sign in with GoogleLupus
What is Lupus?
Systemic lupus erythematosus , often abbreviated as SLE or lupus, is a systemic autoimmune disease (or autoimmune connective tissue disease) in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. When the immune system is functioning normally, it makes proteins called antibodies that protect against pathogens such as viruses and bacteria. Lupus is characterized by the presence of antibodies against a person's own proteins; these are most commonly anti-nuclear antibodies, which are found in nearly all cases. These antibodies lead to inflammation. Although the underlying cause of autoimmune diseases is unknown, most believe that lupus results from both genetic and environmental stimuli.
There are many kinds of lupus. The most common type is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which affects many internal organs in the body. SLE most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions. The disease occurs nine times more often in women than in men, especially in women in child-bearing years ages 15 to 35, and is also more common in those of non-European descent.
While there is no cure for SLE, it is treated with immunosuppression, mainly with cyclophosphamide, corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants. The goal of these treatments is to keep symptoms under control. SLE can be fatal. The leading cause of death is from cardiovascular disease due to accelerated atherosclerosis. Survival for people with SLE in the United States, Canada, and Europe has risen to approximately 95% at five years, 90% at 10 years, and 78% at 20 years, and now approaches that of matched controls without lupus.
Childhood systemic lupus erythematosus generally presents between the ages of 3 and 15, with girls outnumbering boys 4:1, and typical skin manifestations being butterfly eruption on the face and photosensitivity. Lupus is Latin for wolf. In the 18th century, when lupus was just starting to be recognized as a disease, it was thought that it was caused by a wolf's bite. This may have been because of the distinctive rash characteristic of lupus. (Once full-blown, the round, disk-shaped rashes heal from the inside out, leaving a bite-like imprint.)
Questions and answers on "Lupus"
my boyfriend was kicked in the nuts two years ago and we been together for three years and we use no protection and i have not become pregnant yet , i have lupus and we both smoke , i have two kids and he lost a set of twins .....i wanted to no if he can have kids because of this or is it me or both of us
MD Hi welcome to healthcaremagic.
I have gone through your question.
I would advise to do ultrasound color doppler scan of scrotum to rule out any pathology due to injury.
For you ovulation profile, thyroid profile, and histosalpingography HSG. After this one can comment that is there any pahology...
I'm 15 years old and I need to find a good doctor. One day my face start turning white, so I went to doctor and they said I have Lupus. I'm getting the go around and I'm tired. I been to doctors in Fairfax Hospital for children. So now I a need a to tell me if I really have lupus and I need to be treated. My face be weeping some kind of clear like water. My face is stiff in the morning.
MD Hello
As per your description, it doesn't look like lupus face. Lupus rahes hardly ever discharge clear water. Consult some good rheumatologist or Dermatologist in your area and get blood test "ANA" done.
Best Wishes
I have read that the drug Dyazide can increase the symptons of patients with lupus. I have lupus and have been taking this drug for 15 years. At the same time I have been having a hard time keeping my lupus under control Is it possible that this drug is part of my problem? Thank you.
MD Hello. Dyazide can cause cutaneous lupus but not SLE.
That said, if the SLE is affecting kidney function, the Dyazide could worsen that problem
Hi. I am 43 years old and recently diagnosed with Lupus. I had an MRI of my brain and the impression states "There are occasional foci of chronic microvascular ischemia involving the white matter of both frontal lobes." I understand this is common in the elderly, but I am only 43. I don't meet with my neurologist for several more weeks. Just wondering if there should be any concern, or if it could anyway be related to the Lupus.
MD Hi,
Microangiopathic change can be best described as really very small area where due to slightly abnormal blood supply, there is injury to the nerve cells. Research shows that seizures and vertigo are symptoms of microangiopathy. In addition to confirming known risk factors like aging and...
I have bacterial overgrowth I am F I also have fibromalgia but I now think I have lupus I am have trouble taking meds and eating acide reflux lite fribrosses of lung constapation VERY shot breath not from fibrosses Dr said right side of heart harden arteries could this be scaradermia lupus.
MD lung fibrosis with acid reflux with tightening of skin happens in scleroderma and mixed connective tissue disease. penicillamine 200 mg twice a day helps with pantop D for acid reflux. unfortunately only steroids work for lung fibrosis which increases acidity. low dose home oxygen therapy is...
sir,I am a sle patient with lupus nephrites classIV B Iwas on medicines wysolone 5mg azoran 50mg ,amolog 5mg,metformin 500mg .Iam a nursing mother My docter adviced me to start HCQ's 200mg and azoran 100mg .sir please give me a suggestion on whether to continue breastfeeding or not is there any bad effects
.
MD Hi
I am dr alok, pleased to answer your health related queries
Yes hcqs and azuron both can be taken as there is no study which is showing that they can harm to baby, but it is always a good idea to stop breast feed as soon as possible because we do not have much study
Hope this will help if you...
hello...was looking up toperal er side effects..I feel really tired and lethargic since starting 50 mg ...I have lupus and RA was already fatigued...feelling overwhelmed with the tiredness..Started Effexor 75 mg ER with no relief after 2 weeks .Doctor said to increase dose and now feel even more tired, I take Plaquinel 200 mg bid for Lupus and RA with Buffered asprin 300 mg bid for pain...during flares a steroid injection with pain meds prn...looking for relief from fatigue. I have a excellent diet ..drink lots of water and try to walk daily..Thinking about stopping the Effexor and BP medication.
MD Hi and thanks for the query.
I am Dr. Alok and very pleased to be assisting you with your health questions today.
I am so sorry to hear that you have so much fatigue and tiredness. Tiredness and fatigue may be related to lupus or it may be a complication of toprol or effexor. It is really a very...
doctor i have skin lupus (maybe) but not in the blood. i do have symptoms of full blown lupus hair loss, couple open sores, joint pain, sores inside my nose and ears, tired, moody, ect. my doc said to live with it. i also have arthritis in knees and thumbs,is there anything i can do to feel normal again, all i take is T3s, white 54yrs. old former jock.
MD Hello,
Thanks for writing to us.
Sores due to lupus infection may be due to-viral infection along with st om atitis.
I would advice you to administer antiviral antibiotics along with analgesics.
Maintain cleanliness of lesion underlying and irrigate the open sores.
Hope this helps....
ive been told i have arthritis neopathy fibromyalgia and lupus . now theyve added chronic fateque,most of my symptoms have been around since 16 iam now 45...iget pain and swelling in hands and feet and all joints worse with weather and use. very sensetive to sunlight constant dry mouth.. dry eyes ..i dont sweat..have a body temp one degree below normal..do you know anything that fits besides the ones theyve given
MD seems to be fibromyalgia, tests may help to rule out other causes.
Health resources related to Lupus
Recent questions on Lupus
MD Hi mam,myself sweta patil ,married 3 ys back,age 30 yrs ,wt 50kg ,I have gone through 3 abortions & my fetus growth is upto 7 weeks after that heart pulsation stops & growth also retarded ,but during my first pregnancy fetus growth is 9 weeks,after that related 2 pregnancy only 7 weeks fetus thats it.Doctors are not telling me the exact reason about this why it is happening, we both are getting tensed wht to do.I have gone through several treatments &several test namely-Anti phospholipid Antibody IGG & IGM,Lupus coagulant,APTT,Thyroid,ANA(Anti Nuclear Anti body),Torch Profile,ACL(anticardiolipin Antibody -IgG -IgM),Karyotypic for both,FSH & LH aLL THESE TESTS ARE FOUND TO BE NORMAL,But AMH (Anti Mullerian Hormone) test in which Satisfactorily Level has found for fertility-2.2-4.0ng/mL level.During 2nd & 3rd pregnancy spotting occurs,during 3rd pregnancy i have conceived after 1 yr.& abortion occurs ,& ihave taken Ecospirin -75 mg,inj Zyhcg every 7 day,endogest-200 mg,rovamycin macfolate,doxinate.Plz suggest me if these medicine are correct ,at this stage i am trying to conceive but not getting pregnant,My husbands test is normal,Please help me what to do at this stage ,we both are getting tensed ,is there are some test we have not done & Piease suggest me i would become a mother or not,what medicine should i take to become pregnant ,7 later medicine to take by which i cn save my child. Please doctor help me is heparin injections are best to take to continue my pregnancy.
MD Yes I m having bad pain in my right ankle. I have lupus and have been on prednisone for 30 years and have bad bad bones I also broke my hip in 2003 which left my right leg longer about 1/2 in. which didn t help things could my ankle be broken it hurts uncontrollably .
MD I have read that the drug Dyazide can increase the symptons of patients with lupus. I have lupus and have been taking this drug for 15 years. At the same time I have been having a hard time keeping my lupus under control Is it possible that this drug is part of my problem? Thank you.
MD Hi, I have lupus and a muscle form of athritus....on Tuesday I had a table dropped down my ankle....yep it hurt ;o) I went to hospital and had an xray...I was told it wasn't broken, just tissue and muscle damage. Since then it has bruised and is swollen, but it is also numb? Is this noraml, or do you think its is more to do with my other medical conditions? Thanks Rebecca x
MD I HAVE 8 OUT OF 9 OF THE SYMPTOMS OF LUPOS. I HAVENT NOTICED FEVER BUT I AM EXTREMLY HOT NATURED. WHAT SHOULD I DO? XXXXX 69 YRS OLD
MD Hello My Family has a history of kidney problems, my mother had accute nephritis and her mother had chronit nephritis - I have been getting sicker for years and years now - it has gotten to the point where I cant hold a job and apparently I am now...
MD I have been having severe deep pains in my arms,elbows down to my fingers and also deep pain in my upper thighs to the top of my feet, it's now mostly on my left side with muscle weakness on the left. I previously was diagnosed with lupus thru an...