Achy, swollen joints; fever; skin rashes, fatigue. These are some of the more typical symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic, inflammatory disorder of the immune system that affects several body systems simultaneously. Approximately 1.5 million people in the United States have some form of lupus, and according to the Lupus Foundation of America, more than 16,000 Americans develop lupus each year.
SLE is classified as an autoimmune disorder because the body's immune system-which normally fights harmful bacteria and viruses-also attacks healthy tissue. Potential targets for attack include the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs. Most cases of SLE are mild, affecting just a few organs. SLE can, however, produce serious or life-threatening problems.
In Latin, lupus means wolf, and erythematosus means redness. Physicians who first described the disease thought its characteristic face rash looked liked a wolf bite. The terms "SLE" and "lupus" are often used interchangeably, but there are several other kinds of lupus, including:
There are a number of forms of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), is one type of cutaneous LE. Lesions of DLE can be abnormally red, raised, hard bumps or plaques. The lesions may have an overgrowth of scaly tissue, plugging of hair follicles, and abnormally dilated small blood vessels that result in a nonmalignant tumor. A thin appearance to the skin, called atrophic scarring, as well as loss of color in the skin, called dyspigmentation, may occur in older lesions, and if the condition involves the scalp, there may be permanent scarring and loss of hair. Lesions are usually on the face or other sun-exposed areas.
DLE occasionally progresses to the more severe SLE.
Drug-induced lupus, which does not generally affect the kidney or central nervous system and usually goes away when the drug is discontinued. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, drugs shown to induce lupus in some patients include procainamide (used for heart rhythm abnormalities); hydralazine (used for high blood pressure); isoniazid (used for tuberculosis); quinidine (heart rhythm abnormalities); and phenytoin (used for convulsive disorders).
Neonatal lupus, a very rare condition in newborns.
In general, women are far more likely than men to develop autoimmune disorders, and SLE certainly fits that paradigm. In fact, the Lupus Foundation of America says that SLE occurs 10 to 15 times more frequently among adult females than among adult males. Although lupus can develop at any age, it is usually diagnosed in women during their childbearing years. SLE is also three times more common in African-American women than Caucasian women.
If you have a parent, child, or sibling with lupus, your risk of developing the disease is somewhat higher, although your health care professional probably won't test you for the disease unless you develop symptoms. There is no known cure for SLE, but treatments do exist.
The precise cause of lupus is unknown. Scientists generally believe that some people are born with a genetic predisposition for lupus, but environmental factors are believed to play a critical role in triggering the disease. These factors may include infections, antibiotics (especially sulfa and penicillin drugs), ultraviolet light, extreme stress, certain drugs and hormones, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Another factor that scientists are studying include infectious agents such as viruses. Even though a virus might trigger the disease in susceptible individuals, a person cannot "catch" lupus from someone else. Smoking is now thought to increase the risk of developing lupus and hormonal factors are under investigation as contributing causes.
The number and type of SLE symptoms vary widely from patient to patient, and symptoms tend to wax and wane. Patterns of inactive disease and lupus "flares" generally establish themselves within the first two years after diagnosis. Nevertheless, lupus can be unpredictable; symptoms as well as the flare cycle may change at any time.
SLE is classified as an autoimmune disorder because the body's immune system-which normally fights harmful bacteria and viruses-also attacks healthy tissue. Potential targets for attack include the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, heart, and lungs. Most cases of SLE are mild, affecting just a few organs. SLE can, however, produce serious or life-threatening problems.
In Latin, lupus means wolf, and erythematosus means redness. Physicians who first described the disease thought its characteristic face rash looked liked a wolf bite. The terms "SLE" and "lupus" are often used interchangeably, but there are several other kinds of lupus, including:
There are a number of forms of cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE). Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), is one type of cutaneous LE. Lesions of DLE can be abnormally red, raised, hard bumps or plaques. The lesions may have an overgrowth of scaly tissue, plugging of hair follicles, and abnormally dilated small blood vessels that result in a nonmalignant tumor. A thin appearance to the skin, called atrophic scarring, as well as loss of color in the skin, called dyspigmentation, may occur in older lesions, and if the condition involves the scalp, there may be permanent scarring and loss of hair. Lesions are usually on the face or other sun-exposed areas.
DLE occasionally progresses to the more severe SLE.
Drug-induced lupus, which does not generally affect the kidney or central nervous system and usually goes away when the drug is discontinued. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, drugs shown to induce lupus in some patients include procainamide (used for heart rhythm abnormalities); hydralazine (used for high blood pressure); isoniazid (used for tuberculosis); quinidine (heart rhythm abnormalities); and phenytoin (used for convulsive disorders).
Neonatal lupus, a very rare condition in newborns.
In general, women are far more likely than men to develop autoimmune disorders, and SLE certainly fits that paradigm. In fact, the Lupus Foundation of America says that SLE occurs 10 to 15 times more frequently among adult females than among adult males. Although lupus can develop at any age, it is usually diagnosed in women during their childbearing years. SLE is also three times more common in African-American women than Caucasian women.
If you have a parent, child, or sibling with lupus, your risk of developing the disease is somewhat higher, although your health care professional probably won't test you for the disease unless you develop symptoms. There is no known cure for SLE, but treatments do exist.
The precise cause of lupus is unknown. Scientists generally believe that some people are born with a genetic predisposition for lupus, but environmental factors are believed to play a critical role in triggering the disease. These factors may include infections, antibiotics (especially sulfa and penicillin drugs), ultraviolet light, extreme stress, certain drugs and hormones, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Another factor that scientists are studying include infectious agents such as viruses. Even though a virus might trigger the disease in susceptible individuals, a person cannot "catch" lupus from someone else. Smoking is now thought to increase the risk of developing lupus and hormonal factors are under investigation as contributing causes.
The number and type of SLE symptoms vary widely from patient to patient, and symptoms tend to wax and wane. Patterns of inactive disease and lupus "flares" generally establish themselves within the first two years after diagnosis. Nevertheless, lupus can be unpredictable; symptoms as well as the flare cycle may change at any time.
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