In the study of immunological or immune response, this disease is the opposite of cancer or HIV / AIDS. In lupus, the body becomes overreacting to a stimulus from something foreign and making too many antibodies or proteins such that even directed against the body's own tissues. Thus, referred to as an autoimmune lupus disease (diseases with excessive immune).
This type of lupus disease has three forms, first is cutaneous lupus, often called discoid that affect the skin. Second, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) that attacks organs such as skin, joints, lungs, blood, blood vessels, heart, kidney, liver, brain, and nerves. Third, Drug induced lupus (DIL), arising out of use of certain drugs. After the use is stopped, symptoms usually disappear.
What causes lupus ?
The expert in health still looking the reason that causes lupus eally is, inherited genes, viruses, ultraviolet light, and certain medications may causes lupus. No one expert can make sure what causes lupus exactly until now. Lupus is a term from the Latin word for wolf. This is due to this disease generally have a butterfly-shaped rash or a red rash on the cheek a butterfly on the cheek wolf similar, but white.
Drugs list that known can stimulate the immune system and cause SLE.
- Hydralazine (used for high blood pressure)
- Quinidine (used for abnormal heart rhythms)
- Procainamide (used for abnormal heart rhythms)
- Phenytoin (used for epilepsy)
- Isoniazid ([Nydrazid, Laniazid] used for tuberculosis)
- D-penicillamine (used for rheumatoid arthritis)
Symptom and signs of lupus
Patients with SLE can develop different combinations of symptoms and organ involvement. Common complaints and symptoms include fatigue, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, muscle aches, arthritis, ulcers of the mouth and nose, facial rash ("butterfly rash"), unusual sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity), inflammation of the lining that surrounds the lungs (pleuritis) and the heart (pericarditis), and poor circulation to the fingers and toes with cold exposure (Raynaud's phenomenon). Complications of organ involvement can lead to further symptoms that depend on the organ affected and severity of the disease.
Skin manifestations are frequent in lupus and can sometimes lead to scarring. In discoid lupus, only the skin is typically involved. The skin rash in discoid lupus often is found on the face and scalp. It usually is red and may have raised borders. Discoid lupus rashes are usually painless and do not itch, but scarring can cause permanent hair loss. Over time, 5%-10% of patients with discoid lupus may develop SLE.
Over half of the patients with SLE develop a characteristic red, flat facial rash over the bridge of their nose. Because of its shape, it is frequently referred to as the "butterfly rash" of SLE. The rash is painless and does not itch. The facial rash, along with inflammation in other organs, can be precipitated or worsened by exposure to sunlight, a condition called photosensitivity. This photosensitivity can be accompanied by worsening of inflammation throughout the body, called a "flare" of the disease.
Typically, this rash can heal without permanent scarring with treatment.
Most patients with SLE will develop arthritis during the course of their illness. Arthritis in SLE commonly involves swelling, pain, stiffness, and even deformity of the small joints of the hands, wrists, and feet. Sometimes, the arthritis of SLE can mimic that of rheumatoid arthritis (another autoimmune disease).
More serious organ involvement with inflammation occurs in the brain, liver, and kidneys. White blood cells and blood-clotting factors also can be characteristically decreased in SLE, known as leucopenia and thrombocytopenia, respectively. Leucopenia can increase the risk of infection and thrombocytopenia can increase the risk of bleeding.
Inflammation of muscles (myositis) can cause muscle pain and weakness. This can lead to elevations of muscle enzyme levels in the blood.
Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis) that supply oxygen to tissues can cause isolated injury to a nerve, the skin, or an internal organ. The blood vessels are composed of arteries that pass oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the body and veins that return oxygen-depleted blood from the tissues to the lungs. Vasculitis is characterized by inflammation with damage to the walls of various blood vessels. The damage blocks the circulation of blood through the vessels and can cause injury to the tissues that are supplied with oxygen by these vessels.
Inflammation of the lining of the lungs (pleuritis) and of the heart (pericarditis) can cause sharp chest pain. The chest pain is aggravated by coughing, deep breathing, and certain changes in body position. The heart muscle itself rarely can become inflamed (carditis). It has also been shown that young women with SLE have a significantly increased risk of heart attacks from coronary artery disease.
Kidney inflammation in SLE can cause leakage of protein into the urine, fluid retention, high blood pressure, and even kidney failure. This can lead to further fatigue and swelling of the legs and feet. With kidney failure, machines are needed to cleanse the blood of accumulated poisons in a process called dialysis.
Involvement of the brain can cause personality changes, thought disorders (psychosis), seizures, and even coma. Damage to nerves can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness of the involved body parts or extremities. Brain involvement is referred to as lupus cerebritis.
Many patients with SLE experience hair loss (alopecia). Often, this occurs simultaneously with an increase in the activity of their disease. The hair loss can be patchy or diffuse and appear to be more like hair thinning.
Some patients with SLE have Raynaud's phenomenon. In these patients, the blood supply to the fingers and/or toes becomes compromised upon exposure to cold, causing blanching, whitish and/or bluish discoloration, and pain and numbness in the exposed fingers and toes.
