Lupus | An Aud Life

Diving back into the topic of the autoimmune disease, Lupus, I’m going to talk about the diagnosis and treatment processes that are involved. Right now, there isn’t a single test that is used to diagnosed Lupus, it’s based on a combination of results of symptoms, blood work, and the patients medical history used to discover the abnormalities in the organ systems. Urinalysis and x-rays may also be ordered to make further confirmation. Specific tests that are relevant to the diagnosis of Lupus are sedimentation rate and CRP that are used to identify inflammation, an Antinuclear antibody test, and a Complement test to detect the presence of a specific antibody or antigen.

The severity of the symptoms of Lupus will determine the type of treatment. For inflammation control, NSAID’s (NonSteroidal AntiInflammatory Drugs) are commonly prescribed for a patient. Disease-Modifying Anti-Rheumatic Drugs (DMARD’s), such as Plaquenil, is also a frequently prescribed medication to treat Lupus, along with immunosuppressants such as CellCept, cyclosprine and Imuran. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone are another option of treatment for Lupus.

As with other autoimmune diseases, there is no known cure as yet, but further tests of new treatments and discoveries are being performed and proven successful more and more each year.

So, as my title “Differences and Similarities between Lupus and Rheumatoid Arthritis” says, let’s take a quick over view of the differences and similarities. Similarities: both are autoimmune diseases with no known cure, both cause joint pain and inflammation, fatigue, inflammation affecting other organs. Treatments are similar as well with NSAID’s, DMARD’s and prednisone. Differences are mostly in the symptoms with Lupus revealing a possible tell-tale of a ‘butterfly-rash’ or malar rash on the cheeks and bridge of nose, a discoid rash- sores on the face, neck and chest, mouth sores or ulcers and a sensitivity reaction to sunlight (photosensitivity).

Before I end, something’s that I also didn’t realize before was that there 5 possible types of Lupus:

-the most common is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus involving multiple organs and the most serious

-Discoid Lupus Erythematosus involves only the skin, not other organs

-A drug induced Lupus is a reaction to specific prescription medications. The symptoms mimic SLE but it doesn’t influence the central nervous system or kidneys.

-Neonatal Lupus is an unusual disease which affects newborn babies.

-Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus seems more of a photosensitivity form of Lupus causing skin lesions to appear on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun.

One more thing, when I’ve had the privilege of meeting Mrs. Duncan, I’ve always made a point of reminding her of how much I appreciated her as a teacher and now I’ll have to tell her how much I understand the road she’s traveled, as we both live and SUCCEED with our autoimmune diseases.

Thank you Mrs. Duncan!

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When I was in second and third grade I had a wonderful teacher named Mrs. Duncan, she was a favorite and for a student who thought school was the bane of her existence, that is saying a whole lot! Just before Christmas of third grade, Mrs. Duncan became very ill and spent months away from school. We suddenly grew to appreciate her so much more when we met our naive, bland substitute teacher, who didn’t let us listen to music, read to us, or take us skating. School was once again torture and I spent most of the time day dreaming out the window. A few weeks after Christmas break, the principal came in and told us that Mrs. Duncan had Lupus and would return as soon as she was well enough. Not understanding as an 8 year old, that word, Lupus, has always stuck in my mind and even to this day when I come across it I think of my fabulous teacher, Mrs. Duncan.

It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and began informing myself, that I became more familiar with what Lupus actually is. Short for systemic lupus erythematosus, Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which like RA, that can involve joints and organs. Like all autoimmune diseases, the body’s immune system begins to attack its own cells and connective tissue. The actual reason a person contracts Lupus is still not completely understood but it is believed to involve genetic and environmental factors.

Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish the symptoms between RA and Lupus, they are that similar. So let’s have a closer look at what Lupus symptoms commonly are.

The symptoms of Lupus vary but usually include a ‘butterfly-shaped’ rash that appears on the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose, pain and inflammation in joints, fatigue, hair loss, inflammation of the kidney (nephritis), discoid rash which is are scaly sores appearing on the chest, face and neck, sensitivity to light, mouth sores, fever, swollen glands and possible weight loss.

1.5 million Americans are estimated to have Lupus; women are 10 times more likely to be affected than men, and for some reason African or Asian ethnic backgrounds have a higher risk of developing this disease than any other ethnic background. Though Lupus can occur at any age, even in newborns, disease most commonly occurs between the ages of 18 and 45 years old.

In my next post I’ll be talking about the diagnosis and treatment process of Lupus is. Please feel free to share!

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