What Is Lupus Erythematosus

Lupus Erythematosus LE (pronounced: er-uh-thee-muh-toe-sus)

was given its name by a 19th century French doctor who thought that the facial

rash of some people with lupus looking like the bite or scratch of a wolf ("lupus" are

Latin for wolf and "erythematosus" is Latin for red).

Lupus Erythematosus was first recognized as a disorder of the skin. The name

was given to differentiate this disorder from the skin changes found when

tuberculosis Aff the skin. The severity of the systemic disorder appears to be

inversely related to the severity of the skin disorder.

Lupus are an unpredictable disease. Signs of the disease appear and disappear,

sometimes for no apparent reason. Because lupus assumes so many different forms

and can change, finding the right balance of treatment for you may take time. Your

treatment will depend on the symptoms you experience and the affected organs.

Once an effective treatment program has been started, continue to follow it. If your

symptoms change, let your doctor know that you can work together to modify

your program.

People who may have Lupus also experience symptoms such as: Fatigue along

with dizziness, headaches or depression, unexplained fever, which may be an early

sign of lupus

Even though the cause of lupus is unknown, researchers think that many factors may trigger the disease. Genetics may play a role. Some people may have a genetic predisposition to

lupus that is then activated by an infection, certain medications, or extreme

physical or emotional stress. The estrogen hormone may also play a role in

lupus and could help explain why it is more common in females than males.

Lupus also occurs more frequently in African Americans, Asian Americans,

Latinos, and Native Americans than in Caucasians.

Lupus can affect almost any part of your body, including your joints, skins,

kidneys, heart, warp, blood vessels, and brain. There is no way to know what

part of your body will be affected. For most people though, lupus are a mild

disease affects only a few parts of your body, and some patients don't get

inner organ problems (like in the heart and warp), but do have skin and joint

problems.

A blood test called an ANA, which detects a group of autoantibodies found in the blood of

people with lupus. These autoantibodies attack the body's own cells. However,

this test is not diagnostic of lupus. Other laboratory tests to detect specific

such antibodies as anti-DNA or an anti. An SM may be helpful in diagnosing

lupus or related diseases.

The Treatment plan for lupus includes taking medications to reduce the

inflammation and reduce the activity of the immune system, balancing rest with

exercise, and maintain a proper diet.