Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE ) is a multisystem autoimmune disease. In this disease, the immune system of the body mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissue. It may affect the skin, joints, blood vessels, kidneys, brain, heart, and other organs of the body. SLE is also short called Lupus.
Dr. Laxmi Waprani is the Best Rheumatologist in Pune, India, specializing in the treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). She is highly skilled in providing customized, comprehensive, and individualized care, utilizing a holistic and evidence–based approach to help her patients manage their SLE symptoms and improve their quality of life. Her treatments are tailored to meet the individual needs of her patients, and she closely monitors their progress to ensure the best possible outcome. Dr. Waprani also works closely with her patients to create a supportive and empowering environment, in which they can make an informed decisions about their health. She is committed to providing the highest standard of care and is dedicated to helping her patients achieve their best possible health.
What is an autoimmune disease?
Autoimmune disease is an illness that occurs when the body tissues are attacked by its own immune system.
The immune system is a complex organization within the body that is designed normally to seek and destroy invaders of the body including infectious agents.
What are the symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus?
SLE is 10 -20 times more common in women than men and is most likely to develop between the ages of 15 – 40 yrs.
Fever, rash, fatigue and multiple joints pain are few most common and early symptoms of SLE. However, symptoms may vary depending on the body system affected by the disease. A few of them are listed below.
- Skin – butterfly-shaped rash on the face involving cheeks and a nasal bridge is a classic presentation of SLE. Rashes may be present in other body parts as well. These rashes tend to be photosensitive, which means they might aggravate after exposure to sunlight.
- Oral ulcers and hair loss are also common findings in lupus.
- Musculoskeletal system – joint pain and or swelling, myalgia.
- Renal Involvement – Acute or chronic renal failure, nephritis.
- Cardiovascular – pericardial effusion, myocarditis.
- Neuropsychiatric – seizures,psychosis.
- Haemopoietic – cytopenias such as leucopenia, lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia, anemia.
How is SLE diagnosed?
Your rheumatologist will make a diagnosis of SLE based on your clinical signs and symptoms and blood reports. ANA and ds DNA test are usually asked for. ANA stands for antinuclear antibodies and is antibodies produced by the immune system against the nuclei of the cell. They are seen in lupus, however, they may also be present in other autoimmune diseases like scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease etc. At the same time, many healthy individuals, especially elderly people may have a (false) positive ANA test. Hence, the final interpretation of the ANA test is best left to the Rheumatologist.
Treatment of SLE :
Treatment of lupus depends on signs, symptoms, and organs involved in that particular patient.
The various drug groups commonly used in lupus are:
- NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs): these are commonly known as pain killers. They are used in patients of sle having joint pain and swelling to control pain and improve function.
- Antimalarials: medications commonly used in malaria such as chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine affect the immune system and help in reducing symptoms of lupus. These are mainly used to control skin lesions. Hydroxychloroquine is preferred over chloroquine because of fewer side effects.
- Steroids: steroids are one of the important medications to control inflammation in lupus. Their dose will depend on the severity of the disease and the organs involved.
- Immunosuppressant drugs: these are steroid-sparing drugs. They help in lowering the steroid dose to a minimum and to the extent that steroids may eventually be stopped.
Azathioprine : it is used for lupus nephritis and other severe manifestations of lupus.
Methotrexate : it is used for joint pain and swelling .
Cyclophosphamide : it is used for treatment of lupus nephritis.
Mycophenolate Mofetil : it is also used for nephritis associated with lupus.
Biologics : rituximab may be beneficial in cases of resistant lupus.