Lupus Wiki. Systemic lupus erythematosus.

A Description of Lupus Erythematosus in the Lupus Wiki

Lupus erythematosus, or simply lupus, is a broad category of autoimmune disorders; a lupus wiki could classify at least four types of lupus:

(1) systemic lupus erythematosus – the most common and well-known, and also the most serious, form of lupus;it is a lupus variant where the immune ssatem attacks the body’s own tissues and organs indiscriminately;

(2) discoid lupus erythematosus, a lupus variant characterized by skin scarring, inflammation, and redness;

(3) drug-induced lupus erythematosus, caused by chronic drug use, the most common of which are hydralazine, prociainamide, and isoniazid;

(4) neonatal lupus erythematosus, indicated by the appearance of lupus symptoms in a newborn whose mother is currently suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus.

The last three are less severe forms of lupus in the lupus wiki. The signs and symptoms of these lupus variants appear, in a greater extent at the main form of lupus, which will be discussed in greater detail.

When people ordinarily talk about lupus, it is most likely systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); it is the most searched form of lupus in the lupus wiki. Systemic lupus erythematosus could potentially affect all parts of the body; the most vital parts affected are: heart, lungs, kidneys, liver, nervous system, blood vessels, and joints. The symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus vary considerably for each patient; the remarkable damage caused by an autoimmune attack on the whole body causes a cascade of manifestations.

SLE causes the familiar malar rash; red scaly patches; alopecia (consistently falling hair leading to baldness); ulcers in the mouth, nasal passages, urinary tract, and vagina; and damage in tissue around the eyes. Joint pain is the main musculoskeletal manifestation; the most vulnerable areas are the hands and the wrist. White blood cell and platelet count are significantly reduced. The lupus wiki also states that all heart muscles are inflamed, and that atherosclerosis is more pronounced and proceeds more quickly. There is also lung inflammation (pleuritis), leading to possible pulmonary hypertension, presence of pulmonary emboli, and pulmonary hemorrhage. Regarding the renal system, the hallmark sign is the abnormal “wire loop” present in the manifested membranous glomerulonephritis. End-stage renal failure is also possible.

However, most serious manifestations of SLE are neurological. Central nervous system manifestations are: headache, mood swings, defects in cognition, seizures, anxiety, psychosis, confusion, disorders in the cerebrovascular system, and intracranial hypertension (increased intracranial pressure, headache, and papilledema). Peripheral nervous system manifestations include: Guillain-Barre syndrome, myasthenia gravis, mononeuropathy, chorea, and demyelination.

The lupus wiki states no single cause for SLE; however, the most common triggers and risk factors are: pathogens (still unknown), and some genes, the most notable of which is the gene on the HLA region on chromosome 6. SLE can be diagnosed through a number of tests such as antinuclear antibody testing, complement system testing, renal function tests, liver enzyme tests, and complete blood count. The lupus wiki indicates no definite treatment for SLE; there are only drugs that alleviate symptoms and prevent the immune system from going amok. The lupus wiki lists these most common SLE treatments: antirheumatic drugs, immunosuppressive drugs (corticosteroids), analgesics, and intravenous immunoglobulins.