This week, we will be talking about lupus and other autoimmune diseases. These diseases affect the immune system, which is the body’s natural defence against disease.
Normally, the immune system protects the body against foreign materials, such as viruses and bacteria. However, autoimmune diseases result from a failure of the body’s own defences against disease. The immune system loses its ability to distinguish between foreign materials and its own cells. Consequently, the body begins to attack its own organs and tissues.
There are three types of lupus. Discoid lupus only affects the skin, causing red marks to appear on the face or neck. However, these skin lesions can also be a sign of another form of lupus called systemic lupus, which can affect almost any organ or organ system in the body. Systemic lupus can affect almost any organ or organ system in the body. When people talk about lupus, they are usually referring to this systemic form of the disease.
Some medicines can cause a condition called drug-induced lupus. This form of lupus usually clears up when the patient stops taking the medication.
Common signs of lupus include high body temperature and pain in the elbows or knees. Other symptoms include red skin rashes, extreme tiredness and iron deficiency.
The effects of lupus can be either mild or serious at different times. The symptoms can come and go. This makes identifying the disease difficult. There is no single laboratory test that can confirm whether someone has lupus. Many people with lupus also suffer from depression.
Lupus can also lead to other health problems. Women with lupus are at a higher risk of developing heart disease. Between thirty and fifty per cent of lupus patients will also develop lupus-related kidney disease.
It is estimated that around 1.5 million people in the United States have lupus. Experts are unsure of the cause of lupus. However, it is known to affect members of the same family. Recently, scientists have identified genes that they believe are linked to lupus. They hope that studying these genes more closely will help to develop new treatments for the disease and possibly even a cure. Recent studies also support the theory that a combination of genes is linked to the development of lupus.
Other suspected causes include antibiotics, mental or physical stress, infections, and hormones. In fact, hormones may explain why lupus affects women far more often than men. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, more than 90% of people with lupus are women. However, scientists do not know why women are at greater risk than men. They think it may be related to female hormones, such as oestrogen. Another theory is that it could be related to foreign cells left in a woman’s body after pregnancy.
Currently, there is no cure for lupus. However, doctors have developed ways of treating the disease. These treatments are tailored to the condition and needs of each patient. No two individuals experience the same problems. Treatment may include a combination of stress-reduction methods and drugs such as painkillers and steroids. Anti-malarial drugs have also been shown to be effective. Recent research also suggests that supervised exercise training can improve the quality of life for patients with lupus.
Approximately forty years have passed since the United States Food and Drug Administration approved a drug specifically designed to treat lupus. Several companies are developing drugs to help lupus patients. Groups such as the Lupus Foundation of America are striving to raise public awareness of the disease.
If left untreated, lupus can be life-threatening. However, many patients can lead normal, healthy lives if they follow their doctors’ advice. It is important that patients take their medication and monitor for any new symptoms or side effects.
Lupus is not the only autoimmune disease. Doctors and scientists have identified at least eighty others in which the body attacks its own organs and cells. Some diseases affect just one area of the body, such as the skin, eyes, or muscles. Others affect an organ system or even the whole body.
Some of these diseases are well known, such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and type 1 diabetes. Others are more difficult to identify and are less well known.
Celiac disease, for example, is difficult to identify because its symptoms are so common. Patients may have low iron levels and experience stomach pain. The uncontrolled release of bodily waste is also problematic.
Doctors may treat these symptoms without realising they are caused by coeliac disease. Some people develop coeliac disease after eating gluten, a protein found in all wheat products. It is not always obvious that consuming something seemingly harmless like wheat can negatively impact a person’s health. For some patients, it can take years for the problem to be correctly identified.
The United States National Institutes of Health states that autoimmune diseases affect an estimated five to eight per cent of the country’s population. However, other groups disagree. For example, the American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association claims that autoimmune diseases affect around fifty million Americans. This equates to around one-sixth of the population.
The physical, emotional, and financial cost of autoimmune diseases is huge. Most of those affected are women. While people of all ages are affected, women of childbearing age are especially at risk.
Some autoimmune diseases, such as lupus and scleroderma, are more prevalent among African-Americans. Multiple sclerosis and type-one diabetes, on the other hand, are more prevalent among white people. The reason for this is not yet known.
New drugs are being tested to help treat autoimmune diseases. However, some drugs can cause problems because they suppress the immune system. This makes the body less able to defend itself against infections. Consequently, the side effects of these drugs can be as dangerous as the disease itself.
Newer drugs aim to suppress only a small part of the immune system, rather than all of it. For instance, drugs such as Enbrel and Remicade block tumour necrosis factor. This protein causes inflammation, which is a physical reaction to infection, injury, or other causes. These drugs have proved useful in treating autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease. However, they are very costly. They have also been found to increase the risk of cancer.
Scientists are therefore continuing to search for alternative treatment methods. For instance, some scientists are exploring the potential of using stem cells to replace tissues damaged by disease. Stem cells have the ability to grow other cells, such as heart, nerve, and brain cells.
Medical experts are also working together to improve the identification and treatment of autoimmune diseases. The Johns Hopkins Autoimmune Disease Research Center was formed in the state of Maryland less than ten years ago. The centre aims to bring together experts to improve the study of autoimmune diseases.
Such private groups demonstrate the importance of scientists sharing information about these diseases. As each disease often affects different organs, it may require the input of many experts to treat the disorder effectively. It is crucial for experts to be aware of the latest research and technology. By sharing information about their patients, doctors can also learn from other cases.
Government agencies are also working to increase knowledge about autoimmune diseases. In the United States, for example, the National Institutes of Health created an autoimmune disease research plan in 2002. The plan encourages agencies from different sectors to collaborate.
Both private and government organisations are working to improve public understanding of such diseases. This can help individuals to understand how to act should they develop a health problem. Meanwhile, researchers are continuing to work to improve patients’ quality of life.
