Very rarely, lupus can cause a painful red eye or changes in your eyesight. If left untreated, eye problems caused by lupus can lead to permanent damage to your eyesight. These issues are very treatable. Sometimes people with lupus can have an underactive thyroid.
This can lead to problems such as tiredness, weight gain and depression. Less commonly, people with lupus can have the inflammatory type of arthritis called rheumatoid arthritis , or a condition known as myositis , which is inflammation of the muscles. Lupus is much more common among women than men. It tends to be more severe in those of Afro-Caribbean origin.
For example, the immune system makes proteins called antibodies that fight infection. There are some factors that probably make this more likely:.
If you have lupus, you will need regular check-ups with your doctors and nurses to look for any of the serious complications linked with the condition. Because of the risk of serious complications, having a healthy diet and lifestyle, and exercising regularly is important. There are also many other conditions it resembles.
However, the earlier someone is diagnosed with lupus and treatment is started, the better their chances of keeping this condition under control. There are a number of tests that can help lead to a diagnosis of lupus or rule it out.
These can then be used to monitor how well treatments are working. Some of these tests are:. Levels of this antibody can go up as the lupus becomes more active and will go down if treatment is effective.
Rarely, this antibody can pass across the placenta during pregnancy — this is the organ that passes food through from a pregnant woman to her unborn baby. If you carry the anti-Ro antibody and decide to have a baby, your pregnancy will be more closely monitored. A positive test for these antibodies may mean an increased risk of miscarriage and developing blood clots.
These antibodies can come and go so these tests can be repeated. These include blood and urine tests, which are carried out regularly so any problems caused by the lupus or by drug treatment can be picked up and dealt with quickly. This test can help doctors recognise a problem in the kidneys at an early stage.
Further tests may be carried out if necessary. Blood cell counts can help to show whether the bone marrow is affected, either by your condition or the drugs.
Different types of scans and x-rays can assess how well your heart, lungs, liver and spleen are working. However, the condition can respond well to a number of drugs. The drugs used to treat lupus will depend on how serious it is and which parts of your body are affected. Your treatments will probably be changed or adjusted as your symptoms flare up or improve. Many drugs used to treat lupus were originally developed for other conditions but were later found to be useful in lupus.
These drugs can treat inflammation and pain in your joints. Examples include ibuprofen and naproxen. They are often used for short periods of time. If used over a long term they can cause problems with the kidneys and so may not be advised for people who have had kidney disease.
Other long-term side effects can include thinning of the lining of the stomach, so they may be prescribed with drugs known as antacids to protect against this. Steroids , also known as corticosteroids, can reduce inflammation. There are different types of steroid medication.
Tablets, for example prednisolone, can be used for short periods when symptoms are active. They can also be used as a longer-term treatment if symptoms persist, but will often be reduced to the lowest effective dose. Steroid injections into a muscle or vein can help control a flare-up.
Sometimes people can have steroid injections into the scalp to treat hair loss — though the hair often grows back on its own when the condition is brought under control. Steroid treatment can prevent your body producing enough natural steroids in response to a trauma such as an injury.
Because of this it is important not to suddenly stop taking them if you have been on them for a while without speaking to your rheumatologist first. Your doctor, rheumatology nurse specialist or pharmacist can give you a steroid card. These drugs can help reduce inflammation. They can help to lower cholesterol and control kidney conditions. The most common example used to treat people with lupus is called hydroxychloroquine. It can be used alone or with steroid creams for skin rashes.
In some cases, hydroxychloroquine can affect the eyes. While this is rare, it can be serious. These are drugs that reduce the effects of an overactive immune system. Examples include:. They may take several weeks or even up to three months to take effect.
Then they might need to be taken over a long period. The dose could be reduced once your condition is under control. People on DMARDs will need to have regular blood testing to check how effective they are, and what impact they are having on the body. They have a more targeted effect on specific cells within the immune system. Examples include rituximab and belimumab. They can remove or reduce the activity of B-cells.
You can get one from your doctor or rheumatology nurse specialist. Rarely, some people with lupus develop kidney failure, which may require dialysis. This is a treatment to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys stop working. In some cases, people may need a kidney transplant. However, severe kidney damage can usually be prevented by early diagnosis and treatment of lupus. All drugs have some potential side effects, and you and your doctor will need to balance the risk of side effects with the need to control your symptoms.
Sometimes this may mean taking additional medications to protect against the side effects of others. Treatments such as calcium , vitamin D tablets and drugs called bisphosphonates may be given to guard against the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis.
This condition can be a risk for people who take steroids at high doses or for long periods. You should discuss your vaccination status with your rheumatologist or GP. You might need to avoid live vaccines. Please visit our information pages on drugs for more information about your medication. Having a healthy diet , exercising regularly and not smoking will help reduce your risk of developing the more serious complications of lupus. Lupus is a condition that naturally improves and worsens at different times.
Learning how to manage a flare-up of your symptoms helps you to be more in control of your condition. The reasons for a flare-up can vary from person to person, but exposure to sunlight, too little rest time, infections and stress can all play a part. It can be useful to try to spot the things that lead to a flare-up and find ways of managing or avoiding them. Keep in touch with your rheumatology team , especially through your rheumatology nurse specialist and the telephone advice line available in most units.
You may find you often experience fatigue , and it can be a big problem. Some medications such as hydroxychloroquine can help. Learning to pace yourself — finding the right balance between rest and activity — will help.
Ask to see a physiotherapist for advice about suitable exercises. While it can be difficult to stop smoking, treatments are available that can help you to stop. Talk to your GP or call a smoking helpline to find out the ways they can help.
If you do smoke, giving up can be one of the most important things you do to reduce the risk of the more serious complications of lupus. However, too much rest will cause the muscles to weaken and may make you feel more tired, so you need to find the right balance between rest and exercise. Walking and swimming are recommended as they can improve fatigue , fitness, strength and stamina without putting too much strain on the joints.
Exercise, particularly weight-bearing exercise such as walking or jogging, can help to keep bones strong. This can reduce the chances of the bone-thinning condition osteoporosis , that can be more likely if you take steroid tablets.
However, there is some evidence that a diet low in saturated fat and high in omega-3, which is found in oily fish, may be helpful. You can also try taking fish oil supplements , but use fish body oil, not fish liver oil. Too much fish liver oil can cause you to have too much vitamin A , which can have side effects such as liver damage and hair loss. Make sure to get enough vitamin D and calcium. These important nutrients are needed for strong bones. Calcium is in dairy products, such as milk, cheese and yoghurts, as well as some green leafy vegetables.
Today, with careful treatment, most people with lupus can expect to live a normal lifespan. Learn more. There is no established diet for lupus.
However, eating some foods and avoiding others may help you manage your symptoms. Autoimmune disease occurs when your immune system…. Lupus is an unpredictable disease of flares and remissions, so finding the most effective treatment can be tricky.
Learn how to effectively assess…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect. Medically reviewed by Brenda B. Spriggs, M. Pictures of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Recognizing potential symptoms of SLE. Causes of SLE. How is SLE diagnosed? Treatment for SLE. Long-term complications of SLE. What is the outlook for people with SLE? Assessing Your Lupus Treatment.
Read this next. Medically reviewed by Nancy Carteron, M. Other common symptoms include: Chest pain when taking a deep breath. Fever with no other cause. General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling malaise.
Hair loss. Weight loss. Mouth sores. Sensitivity to sunlight. Skin rash -- A "butterfly" rash develops in about half the people with SLE. The rash is mostly seen over the cheeks and bridge of the nose. It can be widespread. It gets worse in sunlight. Swollen lymph nodes. Other symptoms and signs depend on which part of the body is affected: Brain and nervous system -- Headaches, weakness, numbness, tingling, seizures, vision problems, memory and personality changes Digestive tract -- Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting Heart -- Valve problems, inflammation of heart muscle or heart lining pericardium Lung -- Buildup of fluid in the pleural space, difficulty breathing, coughing up blood Skin -- Sores in the mouth Kidney -- Swelling in the legs Circulation -- Clots in veins or arteries, inflammation of blood vessels, constriction of blood vessels in response to cold Raynaud phenomenon Blood abnormalities including anemia, low white blood cell or platelet count Some people have only skin symptoms.
This is called discoid lupus. Exams and Tests. Each person with SLE needs evaluation regarding: How active the disease is What part of the body is affected What form of treatment is needed Mild forms of the disease may be treated with: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs for joint symptoms and pleurisy.
Talk to your provider before taking these medicines. Low doses of corticosteroids, such as prednisone, for skin and arthritis symptoms. Corticosteroid creams for skin rashes. Hydroxychloroquine, a medicine also used to treat malaria. Methotrexate may be used to reduce the dose of corticosteroids Belimumab, a biologic medicine, may be helpful in some people. Treatments for more severe SLE may include: High-dose corticosteroids.
Immunosuppressive medicines these medicines suppress the immune system. These medicines are used if you have severe lupus that is affecting the nervous system, kidney or other organs. They may also be used if you do not get better with corticosteroids, or if your symptoms get worse when you stop taking corticosteroids. Medicines most commonly used include mycophenolate, azathioprine and cyclophosphamide. Because of its toxicity, cyclophosphamide is limited to a short course of 3 to 6 months.
Rituximab Rituxan is used in some cases as well. Blood thinners, such as warfarin Coumadin , for clotting disorders such as antiphospholipid syndrome. If you have SLE, it is also important to: Wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen when in the sun. Get preventive heart care. Stay up-to-date with immunizations.
Have tests to screen for thinning of the bones osteoporosis.
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