Systemic lupus erythematosus (patient information): Difference between revisions
| Line 57: | Line 57: | ||
*General management: | *General management: | ||
:*Avoid sun exposure: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus should better prevent from sun exposure. When going out, they are recommended to use sunscreen with higher SPF (at least 15). Wearing protective clothing is also an importsnt way. | :*Avoid sun exposure: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus should better prevent from sun exposure. When going out, they are recommended to use sunscreen with higher SPF (at least 15). Wearing protective clothing is also an importsnt way. | ||
*[[Meidication]] | |||
:*[[Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug]]s ([[NSAID]]s): NSAIDs may be used to control inflammation and pain in patients with [[arthritis]] or [[pleurisy]] with systemic lupus erythematosus. Usual drugs include [[ibuprofen]], [[naproxen]] and [[indomethacin]]. Usual [[side effect]]s are [[pain]], [[bleeding]] and [[ulcer]]s in upper gastrointestinal tract. | :*[[Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug]]s ([[NSAID]]s): NSAIDs may be used to control inflammation and pain in patients with [[arthritis]] or [[pleurisy]] with systemic lupus erythematosus. Usual drugs include [[ibuprofen]], [[naproxen]] and [[indomethacin]]. Usual [[side effect]]s are [[pain]], [[bleeding]] and [[ulcer]]s in upper gastrointestinal tract. | ||
:*[[Corticosteroid]]s: Corticosteroids can be used to control many symptoms such as [[pain]] and [[rash]]. Side effects of corticosteroids may include a decreased ability against [[infection]], worse healing in the wound and [[osteoporosis]]. | :*[[Corticosteroid]]s: Corticosteroids can be used to control many symptoms such as [[pain]] and [[rash]]. Side effects of corticosteroids may include a decreased ability against [[infection]], worse healing in the wound and [[osteoporosis]]. | ||
Revision as of 17:55, 14 April 2010
For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Jinhui Wu, MD
Please Join in Editing This Page and Apply to be an Editor-In-Chief for this topic: There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.
What is systemic lupus erythematosus?
How do I know if I have systemic lupus erythematosus and what are the symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus?
Symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus vary from person to person, depending the organs affected. And the symptoms may come and go.
- The most common symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus
- Fatigue
- Low fever
- Muscle pain
- Joint pain
- Lost of appetite
- Facial butterfly rash
- Sensitivity to sunlight
- Chest pain
- Swollen lymph nodes
- Abnormal blood clotting
- Other symptoms depends on the orgnas affected.
- Headache, new paralysis, or seizures
- Personality change, even psychosis
- Arrhythmias
- Abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting
- Hematuria
Who is at risk for systemic lupus erythematosus?
The underlying cause of this autoimmune disease is not clear. Clinical data show the onset of systemic lupus erythematosus ia associated with the following factors:
- Female: SLE affects nine times as many women as men.
- Age: From 10 to 50
- Race: African Americans and Asians are affected more often than people from other races.
- Drugs, such as chlorpromazine, hydralazine, isoniazid, methyldopa, penicillamine, procainamide, quinidine and sulfasalazine.
How to know you have systemic lupus erythematosus?
The American College of Rheumatology has designated 11 criteria for classification. If the patient has four or more criteria, he/she can be diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus.
- Malar rash: This butterfly rash below the eyes may be flat or elevated.
- Discoid rash: These are red, raised patches with scaling of the overlying skin. A subgroup of patients have "discoid lupus" with only skin involvement and do not have systemic lupus erythematosus. All patients with discoid lupus should be screened for systemic involvement.
- Sensitivity to sunligh: A rash develops in response to sun exposure.
- Oral ulcers: The doctor can observe painless sores in the nose or mouth.
- Arthritis: The arthritis of lupus usually demonstrate swelling and tenderness of the joints.
- Serositis: This means an inflammation of various "sacs" or membranes, such as pericarditis, pleurisy or peritonitis. Patients with these inflammations may demonstrate symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, or forced posture.
- Kidney disease: Patients with lupus may demonstrate persistent loss of protein, or inflammation during analysis of the urine.
- Neurological disorder: Patients with lupus may show paralysis, or seizures, personality change, even psychosis.
- Blood disorder: Patients with lupus may show low blood counts of various blood components.
- Immunologic disorder: Some antibodies tests may be positive in patients with lupus. It includes antibody tests such as anti-double strand (ds) DNA, anti-phospholipid antibodies and anti-smith antibodies.
- Positive antinuclear antibody: It is a very valuable test to rule out lupus. More than 98% of patients with lupus have a positive ANA test result.
When to seek urgent medical care?
Call your health care provider if you develop symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus.
Treatment options
Symptoms of systemic lupus erythemtosus may come and go. The aim of treatments is to relieve your symptoms and decrease the inflammation.
- General management:
- Avoid sun exposure: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus should better prevent from sun exposure. When going out, they are recommended to use sunscreen with higher SPF (at least 15). Wearing protective clothing is also an importsnt way.
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): NSAIDs may be used to control inflammation and pain in patients with arthritis or pleurisy with systemic lupus erythematosus. Usual drugs include ibuprofen, naproxen and indomethacin. Usual side effects are pain, bleeding and ulcers in upper gastrointestinal tract.
- Corticosteroids: Corticosteroids can be used to control many symptoms such as pain and rash. Side effects of corticosteroids may include a decreased ability against infection, worse healing in the wound and osteoporosis.
- Cytotoxic drugs
Diseases with similar symptoms
Where to find medical care for systemic lupus erythematosus?
Directions to Hospitals Treating systemic lupus erythematosus
Prevention of systemic lupus erythematosus
What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?
Copyleft Sources
http://www.medicinenet.com/systemic_lupus/article.htm
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000435.htm
http://www.hcvadvocate.org/hepatitis/factsheets_pdf/SLE_09.pdf
http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/809378-overview
http://www.emedicinehealth.com/lupus_systemic_lupus_erythematosus/article_em.htm