Lupus erythematosus - A dangerous little known disease

Immune system helps the body fight the intrusion of foreign agents. Using systemic lupus erythematosus, the immune system loses its ability to distinguish strange - familiar and against the body.

Learn about lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is often referred to simply as lupus , first described in 1845 by Hebra. This is a chronic autoimmune disease , unexplained, damaging most organ systems in the body and in severe cases, can threaten the life of the patient. In people with systemic lupus erythematosus, the immune system does not help the body fight the invasion of foreign agents, causing illness that turns out against the body by producing antibodies against the cells of virtually all agencies.

Lupus is a Latin word, meaning wolf, derived from the fact that patients often have a characteristic red rash on the face like a wolf's bite. From erythema to a common sign in most patients with this disease. From the system used because the disease affects most organ systems in the body.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a global problem, with millions of new sufferers every year in the world but society has little knowledge of its existence. According to the study of the American Lupus Association, the country now has about 2 million people with systemic lupus erythematosus, the number of deaths due to illness increased from 879 in 1979 to 1,046 in 2002 and 40% of patients had to quit their jobs.

In Vietnam, according to the study of the Center for Allergy - Clinical Immunology, Bach Mai Hospital, which mainly receives treatment for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus in the northern provinces, patients suffer from this disease in treatment at the center always accounts for the largest number with 400-500 people per year, accounting for more than 1/3 of total inpatient patients.

Patients treated with systemic lupus erythematosus at the Center for Allergy - Clinical Immunology, Bach Mai Hospital.(Photo: MT).

The cause to the illness

The official cause of the disease is not known, it is thought that systemic lupus erythematosus is caused by a combination of many factors, especially important factors are:

• Genetics : Siblings of systemic lupus erythematosus patients are 20 times more likely to develop the disease than ordinary people.
• Environment : Due to infection, exposure to chemicals, sunlight .
• Endocrine : The disease occurs mainly in women of childbearing age (9 times more than men). After menopause, both the incidence and level of the disease are markedly reduced, while during pregnancy the disease often gets worse.

Expression of the disease

Symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus may appear suddenly or slowly after months or years. Because it affects most organs in the body, the symptoms of the disease are very diverse and often worsen in the winter months. Probably as a result of much sun exposure during the previous summer.

More than 90% of patients who come to visit have nonspecific symptoms such as thinness, fatigue, mild fever, hair loss, mouth ulcers, and minor joint pain. muscle aches, menstrual disorders About three-quarters of patients see abnormal skin rashes, the most common of which is the butterfly-wing rash, a very characteristic sign of systemic lupus erythematosus (erythema in the two cheekbones that are bridged). through the nose bridge).

Injury of the internal organs such as the heart (pericardial effusion, myocarditis), in the lungs (pleural effusion, pneumonia), in the kidneys (glomerulonephritis), in the nervous system (convulsions, mental disorders) god), in the hematopoietic system (anemia, hemorrhage) usually occurs in the global stage of the disease in about 50-85% of patients and is the main cause of death. These symptoms often turn into episodes alternating between periods of remission.

In the early stages of the disease, symptoms are often vague and similar to many other conditions, so it may take several years from the first symptoms to the time when the disease is correctly diagnosed.

Cure

Systemic lupus erythematosus cannot be completely cured but can be controlled if treated properly. The main purpose of this treatment is to reduce symptoms and limit severe internal injuries. During the acute phase of illness, patients need to be rested but still need a reasonable mode of movement to avoid muscle atrophy and stiffness.

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, Nimesulide have good effects on muscle and joint symptoms. The most common side effects of them are causing duodenal ulcers and to minimize this side effect they should be taken with meals.

This disease cannot be completely cured but can be controlled if treated properly.

Types of corticosteroids like: prednisolone, methylprednisolone (Solu-medrol, Medrol), prednisone (Cortancyl), betamethasone (Celeston) have stronger anti-inflammatory effects than NSAIDs but also have more side effects and are only used in severe cases organ damage. Common side effects of this group of drugs are duodenal ulcers, hyperglycemia, osteoporosis, stretch marks, increased risk of infection, adrenal suppression. They should be taken once after breakfast.

Anti-malarial drugs such as Hydroxychloroquine and Chloroquine work well with skin and joint injuries. Immunosuppressive drugs such as azathioprin (Imuran), cyclophosphamide (Endoxan), cyclosporine (Sandimmun) are only used in severe cases that do not respond to corticosteroids simply because they often have many dangerous side effects.

So far, no one traditional medicine has proven to be effective in treating systemic lupus erythematosus. Therefore, patients should be very careful when using these drugs because they can also cause many unwanted effects, can even threaten their lives.

How to prevent exacerbations of the disease

People with systemic lupus erythematosus need to have a healthy life, active, less psychological . In addition, ultraviolet rays in the sun often trigger or exacerbate the exacerbations of the disease, so it is necessary to avoid maximum exposure . Sudden cessation of drugs, especially corticosteroids, is also an important cause of acute exacerbations and therefore should be avoided.