Educational Lupus Information - Part 4

Systemic lupus is a disease that can affect many parts of the body. A lupus symptom that is active for a while is called a lupus flare; if the symptoms go away for a period of time, it's referred to as remission. Some doctors prefer to use the term "quiescence," which means a quiet period, instead of the word remission.


Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus require both medical treatment for controlling their dysfunctional immune system (immunosuppressant medications), and for overcoming the diseases generated by Lupus. People with Lupus are very susceptible to bacterial infections and need continuous medical treatment with antibiotics. Many patients with Lupus also suffer from lung disease (tuberculosis, pneumonia) and cardio-vascular diseases and need medical treatments with antihypertensive medications and anti-inflammatory drugs. Although there are various medical therapies and treatments available nowadays, patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can be affected by the disease for their entire lifetimes. The evolution and the chronic character of Lupus resemble HIV, both involving dysfunctions of the immune system and high susceptibility to other diseases.

While people with discoid lupus erythematosus mostly present recurring skin disorders, patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus can develop a wide range of diseases: cardiovascular diseases, tuberculosis, pneumonia, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, diseases of the musculoskeletal or nervous systems.

Becoming overtired or feeling as though your stress level is building up.Having more frequent or higher fevers than usual.Aching in your muscles, or more painful and swollen joints.The development of a rash.The development of any symptoms you have not had before.

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 This information is for"informational purposes" and is not meant to be used for medical diagnosis. Always consult your physician on matters such as this.

Educational Lupus Information - Part 3

Becoming overtired or feeling as though your stress level is building up.Having more frequent or higher fevers than usual.Aching in your muscles, or more painful and swollen joints.The development of a rash.The development of any symptoms you have not had before


Cytotoxic medications are very powerful and they are prescribed only to patients with severe forms of lupus. Cytotoxic medications and corticosteroids are usually prescribed together in lupus treatments and their aim is to suppress the production of antibodies that are harmful to the organism.

Lupus generates a wide range of symptoms and people with the disease experience them at different intensities. Lupus involves abnormal activity of the immune system. The dysfunctional immune system produces antibodies that turn against healthy body cells and tissues (antinuclear antibodies). Some antibodies produced by the dysfunctional immune system can even alter the body’s genetic material (anti-DNA antibodies). The abnormal activity of the immune system can lead to the occurrence of various internal disorders (heart disease, pulmonary disease, kidney disease), disorders of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis, osteoporosis), disorders of the nervous system (brain disease) and skin diseases (lupus rash, erythematous lesions).

The treatment for systemic lupus erythematosus is mainly targeted at reducing the damage caused by the dysfunctional immune system to the body. Immunosuppressive medications are very common in the treatment for lupus. Although they can generate pronounced side-effect, corticosteroids are often used in the treatment of systemic lupus erythemaosus. However, doctors are trying to minimize the use of harmful drugs such as azathioprine (Imuran) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan).

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This information is for"informational purposes" and is not meant to be used for medical diagnosis. Always consult your physician on matters such as this.

Educational Lupus Information - Part 2

Subacute cutaneous lupus rash generally occurs in the body areas that are exposed to the sun. The rash increases in size and it forms circular, scaly patches. This type of lupus rash doesn’t involve scarring, but it usually heals with hypo-pigmentation of the skin. Subacute cutaneous lupus rash can occur in both systemic and discoid forms of the disease and it generally fades in the periods of remission. Although it can’t be completely overcome, this symptom can also be controlled through the means of medical treatments. When you have lupus rash, it is very important to avoid exposing the affected skin to sunlight. Also, you should avoid exposing the skin to irritants and chemicals, as they can seriously aggravate the rash.


Systemic lupus erythematosus can affect different parts of the body, sometimes even causing permanent damage. Lupus involves dysfunctions or hyperactivity of the immune system, which begins to attack healthy blood cells and genetic material. Instead of protecting the body from infectious agents and malign organisms, the immune system produces antinuclear antibodies that attack the DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). Systemic lupus erythematosus can affect the cardiovascular system, the lungs, the gastrointestinal tract, the kidneys, the nervous system and brain, the musculoskeletal system or skin. People with systemic lupus erythematosus commonly suffer from affections of the joints, heart disease, pulmonary disease or skin diseases. Considering the multitude of generated symptoms, people with systemic lupus erythematosus require various medical treatments for each particular disorder.

Corticosteroids are commonly prescribed in lupus treatments. These are powerful drugs that control the activity of the dysfunctional immune system.

Lupus rash commonly occurs on the body regions that are exposed to sunlight: scalp, face, neck and shoulders. However, the rash can also occur in other areas of the body (chest, back, palms and feet), in many cases accompanied by skin lesions. When it occurs on the face, lupus rash has a reddish, burn-like aspect. Sometimes the rash can even affect the moist tissues around the mouth and the nose. In the systemic form of the disease, lupus rash doesn’t generally involve skin scarring and it can ameliorate with medical treatment. Lupus rash tends to aggravate if the affected skin is exposed to the sun for long periods of time.

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 This information is for"informational purposes" and is not meant to be used for medical diagnosis. Always consult your physician on matters such as this.