Lupus is classified as an autoimmune disease. The body’s immune system normally produces proteins called antibodies to protect the body from viruses, bacteria and other foreign substances called antigens.
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease, meaning that it causes inflammation of the affected organs and that persists for a long period of time, which could mean a lifetime. However, lupus manifests itself by alternating periods of greater activity or more symptoms (exacerbation) with periods of inactivity (remission).
Lupus is more common in blacks and Asians. Approximately, a city that has 100,000 inhabitants will have 7 new cases of lupus each year. Lupus can appear at any age: childhood, adulthood and the elderly, although in most cases it appears between the ages of 17 and 35.
Systemic lupus erythematosus is, as its name suggests, a systemic disease. This means that it can affect many organs: skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, etc., but half of the patients with lupus have almost exclusive involvement of the skin and joints.
The diagnosis of lupus is based on three fundamental aspects: 1) the symptoms explained by the patient; 2) the patient’s physical examination and 3) blood and urine tests.
Lupus cannot be cured with medication, but it can be controlled.
The treatment approach is based on the specific needs and symptoms of the patient. Since the characteristics of lupus can vary significantly between different individuals, it is important to emphasize the importance of medical check-ups, the frequency of which will depend on the clinical situation.
