Systemic lupus erythematosus is regarded as a life-threatening chronic autoimmune disorder. According to statistics, around 2 million people in the USA suffer from systemic lupus erythematosus and the majority of them are affected by acute forms of the illness. Lupus is characterized by dysfunctions of the , which begins to attack healthy blood cells and the body’s genetic material.

Immune system

Rather than protecting the organism from outside infectious agents, the immune system produces abnormal antibodies which cause severe harm to the whole body. Although modern medicine has not yet discovered a cure for systemic lupus erythematosus, the medical remedies available now can control the manifestations of the disease, preventing it from growing.

The development of systemic lupus erythematosus can be quite unpredictable. An intriguing characteristic of the disease is that the alternation between periods of remission and periods of aggravation. In the periods of remission, individuals with the disease have milder symptoms of lupus, only to undergo acute and diversified symptoms in the foreseeable future, in the phases of recurrence.

Lupus

It has a pronounced chronic character which determines the reappearance of its symptoms in time. Because of the recidivating nature of the symptoms of lupus, the medical treatment is ongoing and involves frequent changes in the drug dose. Systemic lupus erythematosus can create a huge array of symptoms. Each individual with the disorder can experience various symptoms of lupus, at oscillating intensities.

In the initial phases of this disease, the symptoms of lupus resemble those of a cold or flu: generalized condition of fatigue, body fatigue, joint and muscle , headache, poor appetite and mild fever. These unspecific symptoms of lupus are normally not severe and can persist for many months before they are replaced with certain symptoms of lupus: rashes that amplify as a result of exposure to sunlight, lesions in the nose and , joint swelling and inflammation, continuing muscle pain, , dramatic weight loss or weight gain, chest pain when taking deep breaths.

Good to know

Laboratory analyses can reveal these symptoms of lupus: abnormal quantities of blood cells (red cells, white cells or platelets), existence of malign anti-DNA antibodies from the blood, presence of antinuclear antibodies in the blood (ANA). When the disease affects the cardiovascular system, the symptoms of lupus are: hyperactivity of the heart, rapid heartbeat and higher . Many people with systemic lupus erythematosus can in time develop severe heart diseases.

When the autoimmune disease affects the nervous system, the symptoms of lupus are: conditions of mental confusion, poor , seizures and faints. Patients may also develop psychological problems like: depression, paranoia and mania. The symptoms of lupus are varied and occasionally they can get very intense. People with lupus experience different sorts of symptoms at different stages of this disease.

Conclusion

The medical treatment for lupus is individualized, each individual receiving medications based on the professional symptoms. It’s extremely important to timely discover the presence of systemic lupus erythematosus in patients, to be able to commence the management of a suitable treatment. Without proper medications and continuous medical observation, the symptoms of lupus can become severe and the patients’ overall health can be radically affected.