Systemic lupus erythematosus, often abbreviated to SLE and more commonly referred to as lupus, is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting an estimated 1.5 million Americans. It occurs when the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissues, resulting in inflammation and damage. The areas most commonly affected are the skin, joints, heart, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and nervous system. Lupus is more prevalent in women of childbearing age and in individuals of non-European descent. A variety of medical complications are brought about by lupus, including chronic kidney disease and vitamin D deficiency.
Symptoms of Lupus
Symptoms of lupus include joint and muscle pain, fatigue, fever, skin rashes, chest pain, hair loss, anemia and sensitivity to light. However, lupus can be difficult to diagnose because it shares many symptoms with other diseases, such as diabetes, thyroid abnormalities and rheumatoid arthritis. Clinicians will often look for a combination of symptoms, as well as testing for specific markers of the disease. Markers of the disease include antinuclear antibody and anti-extractable nuclear antigen.
Causes of Lupus
The causes of lupus are thought to be genetic and environmental, with no single influence having been discovered. Lupus does run in families, suggesting that genes are involved in its development, but several genes appear to influence susceptibility. Several environmental factors are also thought to trigger the disease, including certain medications, stress, exposure to sunlight, hormones and infections.
Lupus and Chronic Kidney Disease
Lupus attacks all the internal organs, but the kidneys seem to be particularly vulnerable, with 40 percent of all people with lupus requiring evaluation and treatment for kidney complications. This particular ailment is termed lupus nephritis and symptoms include weight gain, high blood pressure, darker foamy urine, and swelling around the eyes, legs, ankles and hands. Diagnosis of lupus nephritis is done using blood and urine tests as well as a kidney biopsy. If untreated, lupus nephritis can lead to chronic kidney disease, and patients will require dialysis or a kidney transplant to remove waste products from the bloodstream.
Lupus and Vitamin D Deficiency
Many patients that suffer from lupus also present with vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is produced in the skin when exposed to sunlight, and lupus patients often avoid the sun because of photosensitive rashes and potential for disease flare. Vitamin D is responsible for balancing the levels of calcium in the body, and a lack of the vitamin can lead to hypocalcemia. Hypocalcemia causes demineralization of bone, leading to bone-softening diseases, such as osteoporosis.
Treatments for Lupus
There is no cure for lupus, so clinicians target treatment toward alleviating the symptoms. This means that patients receive a combination of drugs and the treatment plan is tailored toward their particular needs. Drugs are used to reduce inflammation, suppress the immune system, minimize damage to organs, and control pain and fatigue. Patients experiencing complications due to progression of the disease are often treated with additional drugs, such as bone-strengthening drugs for osteoporosis.
Member Comments