The "immortal cancer" lupus erythematosus has once again sparked heated discussion. What exactly is this disease?

recently

#Lupus#topic

Has remained high

Aroused heated discussion among netizens

Systemic lupus erythematosus

(SLE, hereinafter referred to as systemic lupus erythematosus)

Many people are afraid

Think of it as the “immortal cancer”

What kind of disease is this?

What are its symptoms

Is there an effective treatment?

Let's learn together

What is lupus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease characterized by the immune system mistakenly attacking its own tissues and organs , causing damage to multiple systems and organs in the body, such as the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, blood, and nervous system.

The disease is more common in women of childbearing age, with the incidence of female patients being nine times that of male patients.

Lupus erythematosus is a chronic disease, similar to "hypertension and diabetes", which requires patients to receive long-term drug treatment. Since the disease cannot be cured at present, it has also been called "immortal cancer", but most patients can effectively control their condition through regular treatment and live a normal life like ordinary people.

What are the common symptoms of lupus?

The symptoms of lupus are varied, and signs and symptoms may change over time and vary greatly from person to person.

Among them, the butterfly-shaped rash on the face is one of the typical signs of lupus erythematosus , also known as "butterfly spots", which usually appear on the cheeks and nose bridge and are shaped like butterfly wings. In addition, some people also develop rashes or reticular plaques on their limbs, and some people develop red rashes around their nail beds.

In addition, common symptoms of lupus include stiff and painful joints, hair loss, fatigue, fever, fingers or toes turning white or purple in the cold (Raynaud's phenomenon), allergy to sunlight, dry eyes, etc.

Lupus may also cause damage to multiple systems and organs , such as kidney, central nervous system, blood, lung and heart problems, etc. Among them, kidney damage is one of the serious complications and can lead to renal failure.

Is lupus a genetic disease?

The cause and pathogenesis of lupus erythematosus are still unclear and may be related to genetic factors, environmental factors, sex hormones, etc.

Lupus is not a genetic disease, but its pathogenesis does involve genetic factors. If a parent or immediate family member has the disease, the risk of other family members getting the disease is higher. Other triggers include viral infection, taking certain medications, exposure to certain chemicals, and abnormal estrogen.

It is worth noting that the disease is not contagious and cannot be transmitted from one person to another through skin contact, respiratory tract or other routes.

Is lupus a terminal illness?

With the advancement of medicine and the optimization of treatment options, this disease has gradually become a controllable chronic disease . Early intervention and personalized management are the key to improving prognosis. Most patients can return to normal life after systematic treatment, and the 10-year survival rate can reach more than 90%.

At present, treatment drugs include glucocorticoids, antimalarial drugs, classical immunosuppressants, biological agents and other drugs. Doctors will formulate personalized medication plans based on individual differences of patients. At present, there are also many innovative drugs targeting new targets in the research and development stage, which has opened up new avenues for the treatment of lupus erythematosus.

Taking hormones will make you ugly, is it possible to stop taking them?

Hormones play an important role in the treatment of lupus erythematosus . The required dosage and duration need to be determined by the doctor based on a comprehensive consideration of the patient's affected organs, disease activity, adverse reactions and other dimensions.

Long-term use of hormones may indeed cause some side effects, such as changes in body shape, obesity, and moon face. Some patients stop taking the medicine on their own because they cannot accept it. This practice can easily lead to recurrence of the disease. Each recurrence will aggravate organ damage, and the dosage of hormones may need to be increased.

Usually, the doctor will choose the lowest dose required to control the disease. After the disease is under control, the hormone can be gradually reduced according to the doctor's advice, and the moon face and other symptoms can gradually disappear. Do not stop taking the medicine on your own.

Can lupus be prevented? Because the pathogenesis is still unclear, there are no specific preventive measures for the disease. However, doctors believe that keeping a healthy schedule, ensuring adequate sleep, eating regularly, and avoiding long-term fatigue can help maintain a normal immune system.

Can lupus be detected during routine physical examinations?

Currently, routine physical examinations in hospitals generally do not include immune system examinations, making it difficult to screen during physical examinations.

If you experience one or more suspected symptoms such as butterfly spots, frequent oral ulcers, swollen and painful joints, increased foam in the urine, etc., you should go to the rheumatology and immunology department of the hospital in time. The doctor will usually conduct blood routine, urine routine, complement, antinuclear antibody series and other tests to confirm the diagnosis.

Does lupus affect pregnancy?

Systemic lupus erythematosus patients may experience disease activity during pregnancy and postpartum due to changes in sex hormone levels. At the same time, some drugs for treating lupus erythematosus are not recommended for use during pregnancy.

When patients have plans to prepare for pregnancy, they should communicate with their doctors in a timely manner. The doctor will develop a personalized pregnancy plan and determine the appropriate time to prepare for pregnancy based on the patient's specific situation, including the condition of the affected organs, disease activity, and current medication regimen. After the disease is effectively controlled, most patients can become pregnant and have children.

Systemic lupus erythematosus is not terrible, it is treatable. With the continuous emergence of new drugs and new treatments, most lupus patients can return to normal life after regular systemic treatment.

Therefore, everyone should believe in science and don’t give up on yourself easily!