Lupus Vasculitis Lupus Flare

Lupus vasculitis and lupus flare

        Systemic erythematosus lupus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that causes very varied symptoms: skin rashes, hair loss, swollen joints, fever, pleurisy or pericarditis. Sometimes the disease can affect vital organs such as kidney or central nervous system. There is no cure to rid the pacient of the disease. Discoid lupus is a skin disease which represents the first described form of the lupus disease. The disease confined to the skin can cause major skin problems including the psychological impact which may be significant because of its location quite frequently on the face. Unlike SLE, discoid lupus can cause scarring.

Who suffers from lupus?

        Anyone can be infected with lupus. However, there is a preponderance in women than in man. It is primarily a disease of young women.

What causes Lupus vasculitis?

        The cause of lupus is unknown. To date, no viral or infectious cause has been identified. In patients with SLE, the immune system normally produces antibodies against foreign agents such as bacteria. These antibodies, particularly anti-DNA antibodies are responsible for most manifestations of the disease.

Lupus vasculitis symptoms

        SLE can affect every organ in the body but it is important to note that most patients have only a few of the symptoms described below. Fatigue, skin rash (usually the palms, hands, elbows and face), hair loss, joint pain, dry eyes, impaired central nervous system, renal disease are the most commons symptoms. The most common clinical presentation is probably that of a young woman between 20 and 30 years who spent her holidays in the sun and returned complaining of joint pain, fatigue, red spots on the skin and in this case clinical examination reveals swelling of joints or a pleural rub. In the active stage of discoid lupus there is a thickening of the skin which becomes scaly. The lesions are red because of inflammation. Achievement of fingers and toes can become painful and important when it comes to cracks. The nails are frequently affected and become brittle, fragile and curved. About 5% of patients with discoid lupus develop at some stage a disease that becomes more widespread systemic lupus.

Lupus vasculitis and lupus flare pictures

Lupus vasculitis treatment

        Treatment is tailored to the severity and extent of the disease. Milder forms can be treated most often by low doses of corticosteroids (doses called "physiological"), anti-inflammatory drugs and antimalarial drugs. In case of more severe damage the patient should administer higher doses of corticosteroids for a short period, in combination with other immunosuppressants such as cyclophosphamide or azathioprine. Particularly cyclophosphamide and azathioprine have the ability to reduce the rate of white cells in the blood. Thus their use requires very close monitoring. The treatment of discoid lupus is mainly based on the use of antimalarials. Corticosteroids are useful for topical use.