Here’s How You Can Get the Best Treatment of Lupus

Posted by americastemcellof on January 14th, 2020

Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. Symptoms include inflammation, swelling, and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, heart, and lungs.

There are a few types of lupus that affect the skin – for example, discoid lupus erythematosus and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). 

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Systemic lupus is the most common form of lupus—it is what most people mean when they refer to “lupus.” Systemic lupus can be mild or severe.

Symptoms of Lupus vary but can include fatigue, joint pain, rash, and fever. These can periodically get worse (flare-up) and then improve.

While there is no cure for lupus, there is a current treatment of Lupus that focuses on improving quality of life by controlling symptoms and minimizing flare-ups. This begins with lifestyle modifications, including protection from the sun and diet. Further disease management includes medications, such as anti-inflammatories and steroids.

Systemic lupus can be mild or severe. Below is a brief description of some of the more serious complications involving major organ systems.

Inflammation of the kidneys—called lupus nephritis—can affect the body’s ability to filter waste from the blood. It can be very damaging and may require dialysis or a kidney transplant in more serious stages.

Inflammation of the nervous system and brain can cause memory problems, confusion, headaches, and strokes.

Inflammation in the brain’s blood vessels can cause high fevers, seizures, and behavioral changes.

Hardening of the arteries or coronary artery disease—This is the buildup of deposits on the coronary artery walls which can lead to a heart attack.

Treatment for lupus depends on the signs and symptoms you are having. Determining whether your signs and symptoms should be treated and what medications to use requires a careful discussion with your doctor.

As your signs and symptoms flare up and subside, you may need to change your medications or dosages. The medications most used to control lupus include: 

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Antimalarial drugs, Corticosteroids, Immunosuppressants, Biologics

Some people with lupus seek alternative or complementary medicine. However, there aren't any alternative therapies that have been shown to alter the course of lupus, although some may help ease some ongoing symptoms of the disease.

Be sure and discuss these and all treatments with your doctor before initiating them on your own. They can help you in determining what treatment is best for you and tell you if the treatments will interfere adversely with any of your current lupus medications.