Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that can affect any organ of your body. It can be skin, lungs, kidneys, nervous system, joints, etc. Many people suffer for years before getting this condition diagnosed because there is no single test that can confirm the diagnosis of lupus. A rheumatologist is a specialist you must consult if you are facing lupus-like symptoms that have been discussed in the next section. Based on your symptoms, medical and family history, clinical examination, several blood tests like antibody panel, ANA and other tests your doctor will be able to diagnose this condition.  

Common symptoms of lupus:

Doctors have often said that no cases of lupus are similar or have the same symptoms. However, the most common signs and symptoms of lupus are as follows. 

• Fever (low or even high-grade unexplained fever)
• Fatigue (unexplained tiredness)
• Butterfly Rash mostly on the face or any other places on the body as well
• Joint pain, swelling and stiffness
• Dry eyes
• Chest ache
• Skin lesions due to sun exposure (photosensitivity)
• Shortness of breath
• Headache, confusion and even loss of memory in some cases
• Hairfall
• Frothy urine and swelling on feet (due to kidney damage)

The symptoms often depend on the severity of the cases. However, keep a lookout for the aforementioned signs and visit the doctor immediately if you notice any such change in your body. 

Causes of lupus:

The exact cause of lupus is not known. Lupus is most of the time thought to be a result of your environment and your genetics combined. Even though no one can pinpoint what the specific cause of lupus is, here are a few triggers that might lead to lupus flare-ups:

• Infection – Some infections can trigger lupus or even cause a relapse in some cases.  

• Sunlight – Exposure to see a lot of sunlight and heat can lead to skin lesions and rash.  

• Hormonal changes – Lupus is more common in women and may flare on occasions of hormonal changes in the body.

• Medications – Antibiotics and certain other medicines can cause lupus. However, the symptoms seem to subside after they’ve stopped taking the medicine.  

Different types of lupus:

Various kinds of lupus are described below. 

• Systemic lupus erythematosus – This is the most common type of lupus that affects several organs throughout the whole body. Symptoms might include inflammation in one or more parts of the body together. 

• Discoid lupus erythematosus – This form of lupus only affects the skin and appears in the form of circular lesions. This mostly happens on the face and scalp, but can appear on other parts of the body as well. DLE does not often affect the internal organs.  

• Drug-induced lupus – this condition can be caused by certain types of medications and drugs and are less severe. The most commonly linked medicines with this form of lupus are:
  • Hydralazine – A medicine used for hypertension
  • Isoniazid – Antibiotic for tuberculosis
  • Procainamide – A medicine used for heart arrhythmia
  • Minocycline – Used for certain skin problems

DIL mostly disappears within six months of not consuming the medicine. 

• Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus – This also leads to skin lesions but only on those parts of the body that are exposed to the sun. This might lead to skin discolouration and scarring.  

• Neonatal lupus – This type of lupus only affects infants when their birth mother passes on certain antibodies through the placenta during pregnancy. Even though there are very few chances of this happening, neonatal lupus in serious cases might lead to heart blockage and irregular pumping.  

Complications:

Lupus affects several different parts of the body. Here are a few complications and effects that you might face if you have lupus. 

• Central nervous system and brain – you might experience headaches, dizziness, eye problems, brain fog, emotional and behavioural changes and even strokes. 

• Kidneys – Lupus can lead to serious kidney damage and even kidney failure in some cases. This might even be one of the leading causes of death for people who are affected with lupus.  

• Heart and lungs – Lupus can cause inflammation in the heart muscles, membranes and arteries and can lead to heart attacks as well. Inflammation can be also caused in the chest cavity which can lead to difficulty in breathing, internal bleeding and even.  

• Blood vessels – Lupus may lead to blood clotting and reduced amounts of healthy red blood cells in the body, that is anaemia.  

• Infection – Lupus makes you more vulnerable to infection and diseases as it is an autoimmune condition and treatment often involves immunosuppression.
    
• Complications in pregnancy – A person diagnosed with lupus should first consult her rheumatologist and gynaecologist before planning pregnancy.  

• Bone tissue death – May cause problems with bones and joints. It may also cause avascular necrosis in some people.  

Also Read: Is Lupus Genetic? Unraveling the Mystery with Research-Based Insights

Who is prone to lupus?

• Women are more commonly affected by lupus. 
• Even though lupus can be diagnosed at any age, it is often found when the person is between 15 to 45 years of age. 
• Lupus affects the people of African American, Hispanic and Asian American races more commonly. 

A person with unexplained symptoms that indicate lupus must consult a rheumatologist for complete evaluation and diagnosis. Lupus is a condition that is not completely curable. With doctor-prescribed treatment, diet and lifestyle modifications one can live a fulfilling life. It is important to keep following up with your doctor and maintain a track of your health record. One can join social media groups for lupus patients to learn and Inspire by the journey of other lupus patients.  

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