Ceguera

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
Systemic lupus erythematosus, referred to as SLE or lupus, is sometimes called the “great imitator.” Why? Because of its wide range of symptoms, people often confuse lupus with other health problems. Lupus affects mainly the joints, kidneys and skin. It can range from mild to serious. Yet, there is much reason for hope. Improvements in treatment have greatlyimproved these patients’ quality of life and increased their lifespan. Fast facts Lupus affects 10 times as many women as men. Treatment depends on the symptoms and how serious they are. Because it is a complex disease, lupus requires treatment by or consultation with a rheumatologist, a doctor who is an expert in treating diseases like lupus. People can live well with lupus if they actively worktoward good health. What is lupus? Lupus is a chronic (long-term) disease that causes inflammation — pain and swelling. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, nervous system and other organs of the body. Most patients feel fatigue and have rashes, arthritis (painful and swollen joints) and fever. Lupus flares vary from mild to serious. Most patients have times when the disease is active,followed by times when the disease is mostly quiet — referred to as a remission. What causes lupus? The immune system is the body’s defense system. When healthy, it protects the body by making antibodies (blood proteins) that attack foreign germs and cancers. With lupus, the immune system misfires. Instead of producing protective antibodies, an autoimmune disease begins and makes “autoantibodies,”which attack the patient’s own tissues. Doctors sometimes refer to this as a “loss of self-tolerance.” As the attack goes on, other immune cells join the fight. This leads to inflammation and abnormal blood vessels (vasculitis). These antibodies then end up in cells in organs, where they damage those tissues.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Page 1

Why this inflammatory response begins is notclear. It most likely results from a mix of inherited tendencies and things in your environment. These include viruses, sunlight and drug allergies. People with lupus may also have an impaired process for clearing old and damaged cells from the body, which causes an abnormal immune response. Who gets lupus? Most often, lupus starts in people in their 20s and 30s. It occurs 10 times more often inwomen than in men. The disease is more common in some ethnic groups, mainly blacks and Asians, and tends to be worse in these groups. How is lupus diagnosed? Lupus can be hard to detect because it has many symptoms, and they can come on slowly. Symptoms. People with lupus often have features that are not specific to lupus. These include fever, fatigue, weight loss, blood clots and hair loss in spotsor around the hairline. They may also have heartburn, stomach pain, and poor circulation to the fingers and toes. Pregnant women can have miscarriages. The American College of Rheumatology has a list of symptoms and other measures that This picture shows a malar rash, a red rash on the doctors can use as a guide to decide if a cheeks and nose. This rash often results from sun patient with symptomshas lupus. If your exposure. doctor finds that you have at least four of these problems, and finds no other reason for them, you may have lupus: Rashes: butterfly-shaped rash over the cheeks — referred to as malar rash red rash with raised round or oval patches — known as discoid rash rash on skin exposed to the sun Mouth sores: sores in the mouth or nose lasting from a few days to more than amonth Arthritis: tenderness and swelling lasting for a few weeks in two or more joints Lung or heart inflammation: swelling of the tissue lining the lungs (referred to as pleurisy or pleuritis) or the heart (pericarditis), which can cause chest pain when breathing deeply Kidney problem: blood or protein in the urine, or tests that suggest poor kidney function Neurologic problem: seizures, strokes...