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- NonContagious: You cannot 'catch' Lupus, through any type of contact, including sexual. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic...
- Classification: An autoimmune disease
- It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic...
- Cause: There is currently no known cause for Lupus. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic...
- Dangers: Sun exposure, stress, injury, ultra violet light, lack of sleep, certain medications
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by chronic inflammation and pain, due to the body's immune system becomes overactive and mistakenly attacking healthy cells. In essence, SLE, or Lupus as it is commonly called, manifests as though a person's body is allergic to itself.
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Chronic / Progressive
Typically, Lupus can flare and go into remission, but it is considered a chronic disorder, and some types of Lupus are chronic and progressive. Progressive means the condition will continue to get worse over time, and chronic means the condition will stay and may get worse.With proper treatment, mild cases of Lupus respond well, and the patient can lead a near normal life and life expectancy. However, more serious cases of Lupus can cause complications that are life threatening.
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Symptoms
Because there are different types of Lupus, and no two people are alike, the symptoms for Lupus can vary from extremely mild to life threatening. Also, because Lupus attacks various parts of the body--it's known as the 'great imitator' of other diseases--the symptoms of Lupus can vary depending on what part of the body the disease is attacking at that time. -
Common Symptoms
- Extreme fatigue
- Unexplained Persistent fever
- arthritis
- Unexplained Joint/Muscle Pain
- Skin rashes
- Widespread inflammation
- Secondary Fibromyalgia
Severe Symptoms
When to See a Doctor
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it's important to schedule an appointment with your healthcare professional to receive proper evaluation and testing.If you experience three or more of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Lupus can cause damage to internal organs that cannot be repaired, but the damage can often be prevented if caught early enough.
Only a qualified healthcare professional can make a Lupus diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
Treatment
The treatment for lupus will depend on your signs and symptoms. Different medications will be used to treat the various symptoms. There have been no new Lupus medications approved in the US for over 50 years.There is a new drug on the horizon, Benlysta, that might be available to Lupus patients in the near future, but the cost of the medication, at $20,000 per year or more, is prohibitive to most patients. It is not known yet whether insurance companies will cover the cost of this medication. http://www.hgsi.com/BENLYSTA.html
Self Care and Coping
If you have lupus it is important to take care of your body. Some things to do would be get plenty of rest, protect against ultraviolet rays, get plenty of exercise, avoid smoking and eat a healthy diet. People with lupus often experience anxiety, depression and frustration. It is suggested to learn as much as you can about lupus because the more educated you are about it, the better you will feel about your treatment choices. Taking time for yourself and connecting with others who have lupus is also a good step towards learning to cope with the disease.Disclaimer
The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you have Lupus, please consult your doctor.-
Featured Video: Faces of Lupus
This video explains what Lupus is, how it affects people afflicted with Lupus, and follows six families who have been directly affected by Lupus.
There is no cure for Lupus. Lupus is not rare, but there's no reliable treatment for it other than chemotherapy, anti-malerial drugs, and high-dose steroids. These medications have a host of side effects that are sometimes as bad or worse than the symptoms of SLE, Lupus.
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Questions
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I have Lupus. Have you ever known anyone with Lupus? 12 AnswersYeah... my mother and my aunt (her sister) have Lupus, plus a woman friend, the mate of a buddy, has it. Plus... my mom also *does* have MS... and I can see how... read more -
How can we raise awareness of Lupus in the medical community, so Lupus patients can be properly diagnosed and treated? #spoonie 4 AnswersI think to get through to the doctors about Lupus you should Design and Publish a very Attractive Poster about Lupus. The Poster Should Contain Some Basic infor... read more
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Links Powered by Google
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S.L.E. Lupus Foundation | Lupus Treatment, Support, Prevention ...
Information on lupus diagnosis, treatment, and research as well as programs and support services for patients and their families from LupusNY.org, the online home of the S.L.E. Lup...lupusny.org -
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Causes, Symptoms, Treatment ...
Get information on lupus (SLE) disease treatment, signs, diagnosis, types of symptoms (butterfly, discoid rash), causes, pregnancy flares, prevention and statistics.medicinenet.com -
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Clinical Overview
Clinical overview of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), a chronic, usually life-long, potentially fatal autoimmune disease.cerebel.com -
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Autoimmune Disorders of ...
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Autoimmune Disorders of Connective Tissue: Merck Manual Home Editionmerck.com -
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Autoimmune Rheumatic Disorders ...
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): Autoimmune Rheumatic Disorders: Merck Manual Professionalmerck.com
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