Lupus, popularly known as butterfly disease, is a rheumatic disease that affects many organs in the body because of the appearance of red spots similar to the shape of a butterfly on the face. This disease is a type of disease that falls into the autoimmune class. Autoimmune diseases occur as a result of the patient’s immune system not working properly and seeing his own cells as foreign substances.
HOW DOES LUPUS OCCUR?
When lupus occurs, the immune system attacks the collagen. Today, although the cause of lupus is not known exactly, it is thought that environmental and genetic factors, as well as hormones, have an effect. In particular, stress, infection, some medications and exposure to ultraviolet rays can trigger the disease. Estrogen acts to increase the occurrence of the disease, while testosterone acts to reduce it.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?
The first observed complaints in the disease are fatigue and joint swelling. Lupus does not cause problems such as joint inflammation and deformities. The symptoms beyond fatigue and swelling are disorders in the skin, hair and some parts of the body. These symptoms can be observed in different ways.
red spots can be seen creating a similar perception. In addition, other symptoms such as hives, acne, hair loss may occur in the patient. Many lupus patients are hypersensitive to light. With exposure to sunlight, complaints on the skin may increase, so the disease may develop.
One of the important problems of lupus disease is that it can cause kidney involvement. Unfortunately, this can result in death. With the progression of the disease process, other symptoms such as disorder in blood values, intestinal and stomach problems, loss of appetite and nausea may also occur. Although the disease does not completely disappear, it is possible to alleviate the disease with drugs in certain periods.
HOW IS IT DIAGNOSED?
Since lupus initially presents with joint pain, people should first have an antinuclear antibody (ANA) test for diagnosis. If the test is positive, Anti-ENA and Anti-ds DNA tests should also be done. Definitive diagnosis is made after test results. Even if the first antinuclear antibody test is positive, this test alone is not enough for lupus disease.
CAN IT BE TREATED?
In lupus, the healing process continues with a fever. In the process, non-cortisone antirheumatic drugs, malaria drugs and immunosuppressive drugs are used when deemed necessary. The most commonly used drug in the treatment is corticosteroids. This disease, which can have fatal consequences before the use of cortisone, can be kept under control with treatments that improve the immune system. However, it is not yet possible to completely eradicate the disease.