Due to its complex nature, people sometimes call lupus the “disease of 1,000 faces.”
In the United States, people report around 16,000 new cases of lupus each year, and up to 1.5 million people may be living with the condition, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.
The Foundation say that lupus affects women in particular, and it is most likely to appear between the ages of 15 and 44 years.
Lupus gained public attention in 2015 after the singer Selena Gomez announced she received a diagnosis in her late teens and underwent treatment for the condition.
Lupus is not a contagious disease. A person cannot transmit it sexually or in any other way to another person.
However, in rare cases, women with lupus may give birth to children who develop a form of lupus. This is called neonatal lupus.
Types
There are different kinds of lupus. This article will focus mainly on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but other types include discoid, drug-induced, and neonatal lupus.
Systemic lupus erythematosus
SLE is the most familiar type of lupus. It is a systemic condition. This means it has an impact throughout the body. The symptoms can range from mild to severe.
It is more severe than other types of lupus, such as discoid lupus, because it can affect any of the body’s organs or organ systems. It can cause inflammation in the skin, joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, heart, or a combination of these.
This condition typically goes through cycles. At times of remission, the person will have no symptoms. During a flare-up, the disease is active, and symptoms appear.
Discoid lupus erythematosus
In discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) — or cutaneous lupus — symptoms affect only the skin. A rash appears on the face, neck, and scalp.
The raised areas may become thick and scaly, and scarring may result. The rash may last from a number of days to several years, and it may recur.
DLE does not affect the internal organs, but around 10 percent of people with DLE will go on to develop SLE, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. It is not clear, however, if these individuals already had SLE and just showed clinical signs on the skin or if there is a progression from DLE or SLE.
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus refers to skin lesions that appear on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun. The lesions do not cause scarring.
Drug-induced lupus
In around 10 percent of people with SLE, symptoms occur because of a reaction to certain prescription drugs. According to Genetics Home Reference, some 80 drugs may cause the condition.
These include some of the drugs that people use to treat seizures and high blood pressure. They also include some thyroid medications, antibiotics, antifungals, and oral contraceptive pills.
Drugs that are commonly associated with this form of lupus are:
- Hydralazine, a hypertension medication
- Procainamide, a heart arrhythmia medication
- Isoniazid, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis (TB)
Drug-induced lupus typically goes away after the person stops taking the medication.
Neonatal lupus
Most babies born to mothers with SLE are healthy. However, around 1 percent of women with autoantibodies relating to lupus will have a baby with neonatal lupus.
The woman may have SLE, Sjögren’s syndrome, or no disease symptoms at all.
Sjögren’s syndrome is another autoimmune condition that often occurs with lupus. Key symptoms include dry eyes and a dry mouth.
At birth, babies with neonatal lupus may have a skin rash, liver problems, and low blood counts. Around 10 percent of them will have anemia.
The lesions usually go away after a few weeks. However, some infants have a congenital heart block, in which the heart cannot regulate a normal and rhythmic pumping action. The infant may need a pacemaker. This can be a life-threatening condition.
It is important for women with SLE or other related autoimmune disorders to be under a doctor’s care during pregnancy.
Causes
Lupus is an autoimmune condition, but the exact cause is unclear.
What goes wrong?
The immune system protects the body and fights off antigens, such as viruses, bacteria, and germs.
It does this by producing proteins called antibodies. White blood cells, or B lymphocytes, produce these antibodies.
When a person has an autoimmune condition, such as lupus, the immune system cannot differentiate between unwanted substances, or antigens, and healthy tissue.
As a result, the immune system directs antibodies against both the healthy tissue and the antigens. This causes swelling, pain, and tissue damage.
The most common type of autoantibody that develops in people with lupus is an antinuclear antibody (ANA). The ANA reacts with parts of the cell’s nucleus, the command center of the cell.
These autoantibodies circulate in the blood, but some of the body’s cells have walls permeable enough to let some autoantibodies through.
The autoantibodies can then attack the DNA in the nucleus of these cells. This is why lupus affects some organs and not others.
Why does the immune system go wrong?
Several genetic factors probably influence the development of SLE.
Some genes in the body help the immune system to function. In people with SLE, changes in these genes may stop the immune system from working properly.
One possible theory relates to cell death, a natural process that occurs as the body renews its cells, according to Genetics Home Reference.
Some scientists believe that, due to genetic factors, the body does not get rid of cells that have died.
These dead cells that remain may release substances that cause the immune system to malfunction.
Effect on other body systems
Lupus can also affect the following systems:
Kidneys: Inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis) can make it difficult for the body to remove waste products and other toxins effectively. Around 1 in 3 people with lupus will have kidney problems.
Lungs: Some people develop pleuritis, an inflammation of the lining of the chest cavity that causes chest pain, particularly with breathing. Pneumonia may develop.
Central nervous system: Lupus can sometimes affect the brain or central nervous system. Symptoms include headaches, dizziness, depression, memory disturbances, vision problems, seizures, stroke, or changes in behavior.
Blood vessels: Vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels, can occur. This can affect circulation.
Blood: Lupus can cause anemia, leukopenia (a decreased number of white blood cells) or thrombocytopenia (a decrease in the number of platelets in the blood, which assist in clotting).
Heart: If inflammation affects the heart, it can result in myocarditis and endocarditis. It can also affect the membrane that surrounds the heart, causing pericarditis. Chest pain or other symptoms may result. Endocarditis can damage the heart valves, causing the valve surface to thicken and develop. This can result in growths that can lead to heart murmurs.
Diagnosis can be difficult because of the varied symptoms that may resemble symptoms of other illnesses.
The doctor will ask about symptoms, carry out a physical examination, and take a personal and family medical history. They will also consider the 11 criteria mentioned above.
The doctor may request some blood tests and other laboratory investigations.
Biomarkers
Biomarkers are antibodies, proteins, genetic, and other factors that can show a doctor what is happening in the body or how the body is responding to treatment.
They are useful because they can indicate if a person has a condition even when there are no symptoms.
Lupus affects individuals in different ways. This makes it difficult to find reliable biomarkers.
However, a combination of blood tests and other investigations can help a doctor to confirm a diagnosis.
Blood tests
Blood tests can show whether certain biomarkers are present, and biomarkers can give information about which autoimmune disease, if any, a person has.
1) Antinuclear antibody
Around 95 percent of people with lupus will have a positive result in the ANA test. However, some people test positive for ANA, but they do not have lupus. Other tests must confirm the diagnosis.
2) Antiphospholipid antibodies
Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLs) are a type of antibody directed against phospholipids. APLs are present in up to 50 percent of people with lupus. People without lupus can also have APLs.
A person with APLs may have a higher risk of blood clots, stroke, and pulmonary hypertension. There is also a higher risk of pregnancy complications, including a loss of pregnancy.
3) Anti-DNA antibody test
Around 70 percent of people with lupus have an antibody known as the anti-DNA antibody. The result is more likely to be positive during a flare-up.
4) Anti-dsDNA antibody
The anti-double-stranded DNA antibody (anti-dsDNA) is a specific type of ANA antibody that occurs about 30 percent of people with lupus. Fewer than 1 percent of people without lupus have this antibody.
If the test is positive, it may mean that a person has a more serious form of lupus, such as lupus nephritis, or kidney lupus.
5) Anti-Smith antibody
Around 20 percent of people with lupus have an antibody to Sm, a ribonucleoprotein that is present in the nucleus of a cell.
It is present in fewer than 1 percent of people without lupus, and it is rare in those with other rheumatic diseases. For this reason, a person with anti-sm antibodies is likely to have lupus. It is not usually present with kidney lupus.
6) Anti-U1RNP antibody
Around 25 percent of people with lupus have anti-U1RNP antibodies, and fewer than 1 percent of people without lupus have them.
This antibody may be present in people who have Raynaud’s phenomenon, and Jaccoud’s arthropathy, a deformity of the hand due to arthritis.
7) Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies
Between 30 and 40 percent of people with lupus have anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies. These also occur with primary Sjögren’s syndrome and in people with lupus who test negative for ANA.
They are present in small amount in about 15 percent of people without lupus, and they can occur with other rheumatic conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis.
If a mother has anti-Ro and anti-La antibodies, there is a higher chance that a baby born to her will have neonatal lupus.
A person with lupus who wishes to become pregnant have tests for these antibodies.
8) Anti-histone antibodies
Antibodies to histones are proteins that play a role in the structure of DNA. People with drug-induced lupus usually have them, and people with SLE may have them.
However, they do not necessarily confirm a diagnosis of lupus.
Serum (blood) complement test
A serum complement test measures the levels of proteins that the body consumes when inflammation takes place.
If a person has low complement levels, this suggests that inflammation is present in the body and that SLE is active.
Urine tests
Urine tests can help to diagnose and monitor the effects of lupus on the kidneys.
The presence of protein, red blood cells, white blood cells, and cellular casts can all help to show how well the kidneys are working.
For some tests, only one sample is necessary. For others, the person may need to collect samples over 24 hours.
Tissue biopsies
The doctor may also request biopsies, usually of the skin or kidneys, to check for any damage or inflammation.
Imaging tests
X-rays and other imaging tests can help doctors see the organs affected by lupus.
Monitoring tests
Ongoing tests can show how lupus continues to affect a person or how well their body is responding to treatment.
Treatment and home remedies
There is currently no cure for lupus, but people can manage their symptoms and flares with lifestyle changes and medication.
Treatment aims to:
- prevent or manage flares
- reduce the risk of organ damage
Medication can help to:
- reduce pain and swelling
- regulate the activity of the immune system
- balance hormones
- reduce or prevent joint and organ damage
- manage blood pressure
- reduce the risk of infection
- control cholesterol
The exact treatment will depend on how lupus affects the individual. Without treatment, flares can occur that may have life-threatening consequences.
Apart from medication, the following may help to relieve pain or reduce the risk of a flare:
- applying heat and cold
- participating in relaxation or meditation activities, including yoga and tai chi
- doing regular exercise when possible
- avoiding exposure to the sun
- avoid stress, as far as possible
Some people use the supplement thunder-god vine. However, the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) warn that this can be poisonous. It is important to speak to a doctor before using it.
Outlook
In the past, people who had a diagnosis of lupus would not usually survive for more than 5 years.
Now, however treatment can significantly increase a person’s lifespan, according to the National Institutes of Health.
Effective therapy also makes it possible to manage lupus, so that a person can live an active, healthy life.
As scientists learn more about genetics, doctors hope that one day they will be able to identify lupus at an earlier stage. This will make it easier to prevent complications before they occur.
Sometimes people choose to join a clinical trial, as this can give access to new medications. To find out more about clinical trials click here.
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