Lupus - Understanding the Symptoms and Treatment

Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that occurs when the body's immune system attacks its own tissues and organs.
Related products/activities
Application
Autoimmune Diseases | Immunology | Chronic Illness | Autoimmune Disease | Immune System
Prepared by Shruti Sahoo, reviewed by Dr. Eugene Smith

Lupus FAQ


Image credit: creakyjoints.org

Is Lupus a disease of the immune system?

Lupus is a disease of the immune system. Learn more about the symptoms, complication, causes, types, diagnosis, treatment, lifestyle changes, and outlook for lupus.

What causes lupus?

It's likely that lupus results from a combination of your genetics and your environment. It appears that people with an inherited predisposition for lupus may develop the disease when they come into contact with something in the environment that can trigger lupus. The cause of lupus in most cases, however, is unknown.

How does lupus affect the body?

Lupus can affect many different parts of your body. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) — this can affect almost any organ or body system. It mostly affects your skin and joints, but sometimes it can affect your heart, lungs, kidneys or brain. Discoid lupus — this is a milder illness, with most people having only skin symptoms.

How long does lupus last?

Lupus runs an unpredictable course. For some people, symptoms subside after treatment of the initial acute attack. For others, periods of “remission” are punctuated by brief “flare-ups” of disease. Several symptoms may be seen in the initial stages of lupus. These include: Joint pain or swelling (experienced by about half of patients)

How does lupus develop?

Lupus develops if your immune system makes antibodies that attack your own normal cells. This causes inflammation, pain and damage in the parts of your body that are attacked. It is not known what causes your immune system to make these antibodies. It is probably due to a combination of genetic, hormonal and environmental factors.

Lupus References

If you want to know more about Lupus, consider exploring links below:

Explore Related Topics

What evidence-based practices support the use of combination therapy approaches in combating resistant infections?

Explore the foundational evidence and research backing the efficacy of combination therapy in addressing resistant infections. Share empirical findings and studies that support the adoption of combination approaches in clinical practice.

What research initiatives are underway to combat antiviral resistance?

Explore the current research projects and innovations aimed at developing new antiviral medications and strategies to overcome antiviral resistance.

How can personalized medicine improve antiviral pharmacodynamics?

Explore the potential of personalized medicine in tailoring antiviral therapy based on individual patient characteristics, genetic factors, and drug metabolism profiles to optimize treatment outcomes.

Challenges in Implementing Antibiotic Cycling Programs

Share your thoughts on the hurdles faced in executing antibiotic cycling programs to combat antibiotic resistance and explore potential solutions with the community.