Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) was first described in 1851 by Robert James Graves, though the disease’s symptoms were well-known before that date. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or Lupus, as it’s commonly referred to in the medical field, is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks its own healthy tissues and cells by mistake, causing inflammation and tissue damage that can lead to other chronic health issues. While SLE may seem like just another autoimmune disease, what sets it apart from other autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or multiple sclerosis (MS) is that it can affect many different organs in the body at once, making it difficult to diagnose and treat effectively. If ignored, it becomes dangerous and may take life!
The definition of Lupus
Systemic lupus Erythematosus (SLE), or simply lupus, is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting many different organs of the body. The exact cause of this disease is still unknown, but it’s thought to be caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and are often unpredictable. Common symptoms include joint pain, fatigue, fever, and skin rashes. Some people with lupus will experience mild symptoms while others will have more serious symptoms like kidney or heart damage. Treatments can vary as well depending on the severity of your symptoms and how your body responds to treatment.
The symptoms of Lupus
Systemic lupus Erythematosus (lupus) can affect different parts of the body such as joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. Symptoms of the condition can include joint pain and swelling; stiffness; a butterfly-shaped rash across the nose and cheeks; diarrhea or constipation; blurry vision; hair loss; headaches; achy muscles and/or joints; fatigue; mouth ulcers. It’s important to know that not everyone with lupus will have all of these symptoms. Some people may only have a few mild symptoms while others may only have one or two severe ones. The treatment for this condition varies depending on what organs are affected by it.
The causes of Lupus
Systemic lupus Erythematosus, or SLE, is a chronic disease that affects the whole body. The causes of this autoimmune disease are not yet fully understood, but doctors think it might have something to do with genes and the immune system. A person’s genetic makeup could make them more likely to develop lupus-causing substances in their bodies. But these substances may also be environmental: they come from outside our bodies, like cigarette smoke or pollution. These factors can trigger the immune system to produce antibodies that attack healthy tissue as well as attack any invaders such as bacteria and viruses. However, there are other theories about what might cause lupus: for example, some scientists believe that some people get infected by viruses like hepatitis B which may lead to lupus symptoms later in life. Some people who have HIV also report developing lupus later on in life.
The treatment for Lupus
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects a person’s skin, joints, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. Symptoms of SLE include joint pain and inflammation; muscle weakness; fever; skin rash or hives; chest tightness or shortness of breath. There is no cure for SLE, but treatments can help manage the symptoms. The two main types of treatment are immunotherapy and chemotherapy. Immunotherapy involves giving the patient an injection to stimulate the immune system to fight off the SLE as if it were a virus or bacteria infection. Chemotherapy uses drugs to suppress some immune cells in order to reduce inflammation in the body.
The prognosis for Lupus
Systemic lupus Erythematosus (SLE) has a variety of symptoms and can affect many parts of the body. The prognosis for SLE depends on the severity of the symptoms, but in general, the majority of SLE sufferers will go through phases of reasonably good health and then phases of poor health. Some people may have mild symptoms that only affect one or two organs while others may be severely affected with many different problems throughout their body. The disease can also change over time so that it begins to affect new parts of the body.
