Lupus
is a chronic autoimmune disease which affects many Canadians. In lupus,
the immune system that normally protects the body against viruses,
bacteria and other foreign invaders malfunctions and fails to
distinguish between the body’s own tissues and the invaders. As a
result, the immune system attacks different parts of the body itself,
causing inflammation in those tissues. This inflammation gives rise to
the symptoms that characterize lupus.
Lupus
is a member of the autoimmune family of diseases which includes
rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, juvenile diabetes, scleroderma
and others. Lupus is not a
form of cancer, is not related
to AIDS and is not contagious.
Systemic
lupus erythematosus (
SLE
) is the most common and serious type of lupus. The autoimmune reaction
in
SLE
can target any tissue of the body, including the skin, muscles, joints,
blood, lungs, heart, kidneys and/or brain. Any part of the body
may be affected by lupus.
Lupus
can affect men, women and children of all ages. It develops most
frequently in women between the ages of fifteen and forty-five. In this
age range, lupus is nine times more common in women than in men. For
individuals younger than l5 or older than 45, lupus seems to affect
either sex equally. People with lupus will have a close relative (20%)
with lupus and there is a (5%) chance that children born to individuals
with lupus will develop the disease.
Discoid
lupus erythematosus (DLE) and subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE) are two
types of lupus where skin rashes and sun sensitivity are the primary
symptoms. DLE may cause a red scaly rash to appear on the face, scalp,
ears, arms and/or chest, while in SCLE, rashes typically occur on the
arms and upper body. With these types of lupus the internal organs are
spared and general health is usually not affected.
A
small number of individuals (approximately l0%) who are diagnosed with
these limited types of lupus may develop symptoms of systemic lupus. DLE
and SCLE may sometimes be present with
SLE
. Tests are performed to rule out
SLE
whenever DLE or SCLE are diagnosed.
Drug-induced
lupus develops as a reaction to certain medications used to treat other
medical conditions. Not everyone using these drugs will develop this
form of lupus. In certain sensitive individuals, lupus symptoms will
appear. Fortunately, drug-induced lupus goes away when the person stops
taking the medication that triggered lupus. The average age of onset for
DIL is 60 years of age. Suspect drugs implicated in triggering DIL may
be: Hydralazine, Procainamide, Sulfasalazine, Isoniazid, Carbamazepine,
Phenothiazines, Quinidine, Griseofulvin.
As
always, please discuss your concerns and questions with your physician.
Advise your doctors if you are taking any herbal supplements or
over-the-counter medications as they may interfere with your prescribed
treatments. Keep a daily diary and write down any questions to be
discussed at your next appointment.
Lupus
Foundation of Ontario is
not qualified to, nor does it, offer medical advice. Please discuss all
medical information with your physicians before making any choices.