Semoga membantu......... Lupus
Overview Lupus is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that can affect many parts of your body, including your skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs. Episodes of lupus tend to come and go throughout your life, and they may make you feel tired and achy. Lupus occurs in several types, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), discoid and drug-induced. SLE is the most common type and causes the most difficulties. It can lead to problems such as fever, swollen joints, anemia and kidney failure. Lupus is most commonly diagnosed when people are between 15 and 45 years old. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, the disease affects about 1.5 million Americans, and most of them are women. Blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans are two to three times as likely as whites to have lupus. The diagnosis and treatment of lupus has improved tremendously in the past few decades. If you take care of yourself and get proper medical treatment, you usually can still lead an active, healthy life. Signs and symptoms Not everyone with lupus experiences the same signs and symptoms. Symptoms may be mild or severe, and you may have times when you have no signs or symptoms of the disease at all. Some common signs and symptoms associated with the disease are: Rash. A butterfly-shaped rash, called a malar rash, may appear across the bridge of your nose and cheeks. Or a scaly, disk-shaped rash called a discoid rash may appear on your face, neck or chest. Sensitivity to sunlight. People with lupus often experience severe rashes or sunburns after minimal sun exposure. Oral ulcers. Sores that are usually painless may appear on your tongue or inside your mouth. Arthritis. You may experience joint pain, stiffness and swelling. Joints commonly affected include the fingers, hands, wrists and knees. Serositis. Inflammation of the lining of organs such as your heart and lungs can cause painful breathing, shortness of breath or chest pain. Kidney problems. You may have kidney problems such as inflammation. This can occur without any signs or symptoms, or you may have leg swelling (edema) and high blood pressure. Brain or spinal cord problems. You may experience headaches, seizures, dizziness, vision problems, behavior changes or stroke. Other signs and symptoms also may occur that are not specific to lupus. These include: Fatigue. Fever. An unexplained fever may be an early sign of lupus. Raynaud's phenomenon. In this condition your fingers, toes, nose and ears turn pale when exposed to cold temperatures. Chest pain. A cough may accompany this pain. Swelling. You may have swollen glands or swelling in your legs or around your eyes. Digestive problems. These problems may include abdominal pain, weight loss, nausea and vomiting. Hair loss. Because lupus may affect the skin of your scalp, you may experience some hair loss. People with lupus may also experience depression or difficulty concentrating, either because of the disease or as a reaction to living with a chronic disease. Causes Lupus is an autoimmune disease, meaning that instead of just attacking foreign substances, such as bacteria and viruses, your body's defenses also attack your own tissues and cause inflammation. The cause is unknown, but doctors believe it results from a combination of factors, which may include heredity, environment and hormones. Although lupus itself can't be directly inherited, it's likely that inheriting a certain combination of genes makes you more susceptible to developing this condition. A viral or bacterial infection may then trigger the disease. Because so many more women than men have lupus, researchers are also looking at the possible involvement of hormones, such as estrogen. Risk factors Although anyone can develop lupus at any age, common risk factors include: Sex. Women are approximately nine times more likely than men to develop lupus. Race. Blacks are about three times more likely than whites to develop lupus. Hispanics, Asians and Native Americans also are more likely to develop lupus. Family history. Having a relative who has lupus increases your odds of developing the disease. Pregnancy. Lupus sometimes shows up for the first time during pregnancy or shortly after giving birth. The disease may also flare after a woman with lupus gives birth. When to seek medical advice If you develop an unexplained rash, fever, persistent aching or fatigue, see your doctor. If you've already been diagnosed with lupus, meet with your doctor on a regular basis so that he or she can monitor your condition and treatment. Also, because people who have lupus can experience different symptoms at different times, see your doctor if new symptoms arise. This includes symptoms such as depression. Screening and diagnosis Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because symptoms vary from person to person and can fluctuate with time. Because so many of the signs and symptoms of lupus overlap with other disorders, your doctor may not initially consider lupus until the symptoms and signs become more obvious. Nearly all people with lupus experience changes in disease activity. At times, the disease may flare. At other times, there may be no evidence of lupus (remission). The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has developed clinical and laboratory criteria to help physicians classify lupus. If you have four of the 11 criteria at one time or individually over time, you probably have lupus. Your doctor may also consider the diagnosis of lupus even if you have fewer than four of these signs and symptoms. The criteria identified by the ACR include: Malar rash - a butterfly-shaped rash that covers the bridge of the nose and spreads across the cheeks Discoid rash - raised, scaly patches that may cause scarring Marked sensitivity to sunlight Oral ulcers Arthritis Serositis, inflammation of organs, such as your heart and lungs Kidney (renal) disorder, such as inflammation Neurological disorder, such as seizures or psychosis Blood (hematologic) disorder, such as anemia Anti-nuclear antibody, an indication that you may have an autoimmune disease Immunologic disorder, another indication that you may have an autoimmune disease In addition to using your clinical history and a physical examination to check for the classification criteria, your doctor will use laboratory tests. These may include: Complete blood count. This test measures the amount of hemoglobin, red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in your blood. Results may indicate you have anemia, which commonly occurs in lupus. Low white blood cell counts may occur as well. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This blood test determines the rate at which red blood cells settle to the bottom of a tube. A faster-than-normal rate may indicate a systemic disease such as lupus. The sedimentation rate is not specific for any one disease but may be elevated if you have lupus, other inflammatory condition or an infection. Kidney and liver assessment. Blood tests can assess how well your kidneys and liver are functioning. Lupus may affect these organs. Urinalysis. An examination of a sample of your urine may show an increased protein level or red blood cells in the urine, which may occur if lupus has affected your kidneys. Anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test. A positive test for the presence of these antibodies - produced by your immune system - indicates a stimulated immune system and is common if you have lupus or another autoimmune disease. A positive ANA does not mean that you have lupus. These levels can be elevated if you have an infection, or if you're taking certain medications. Your doctor may advise more specific antibody testing and refer you to a rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in musculoskeletal disorders such as arthritis, if you test positive for ANA. Chest X-ray. An image of your chest may reveal abnormal shadows that suggest fluid or presence of inflammation of your lungs, which can occur with lupus. Electrocardiogram (ECG). This test measures the pattern of electrical impulses generated in your heart. It can help identify irregular rhythms, damage to your heart or enlargement of your heart, any of which can occur with lupus. Syphilis test. If your doctor orders a syphilis test, it's not necessarily because he or she thinks you might have syphilis. Rather, a false-positive result of a syphilis test can indicate anti-phospholipid antibodies in your blood, which can also be an indicator of lupus. The presence of anti-phospholipid antibodies has been associated with an increased risk of blood clots, strokes and recurrent miscarriages. Complications With treatment, most people with lupus can live active, healthy lives. Without treatment, complications from lupus can be life-threatening. These complications can affect the following parts of the body and result in the following conditions: Kidneys. Lupus can cause your kidneys to become inflamed (nephritis). One of the reasons it's so important to receive ongoing medical care is that nephritis can be painless, but it can easily be detected through routine urine and blood tests, and if needed, a kidney biopsy. A blood test called serum creatinine level is used to check kidney function. Central nervous system. If your central nervous system is affected by lupus, you may experience headaches, dizziness, memory problems, behavior changes or even seizures. Blood and blood vessels. Lupus may lead to blood problems including anemia and increased risk of bleeding or blood clotting. It can also cause inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis). Lungs. Having lupus increases your chances of developing an inflammation of your chest cavity lining (pleurisy) that can make breathing painful. You may also be more susceptible to a noninfectious form of pneumonia. Heart. Chest pain may also be the result of an inflammation of your heart muscle (myocarditis and endocarditis), your arteries (coronary vasculitis) or heart membrane (pericarditis). A leading cause of death for people with lupus is cardiovascular disease, which can lead to heart attacks. It's unclear whether this is because people with lupus are living longer, or whether it may be a complication of treatment. Controlling high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol, being a nonsmoker and getting regular exercise are ways to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Infection. People with lupus are at increased risk of infection, both from the disease and from some of the treatments. Avascular necrosis. Avascular necrosis, which means tissue death, can occur when the blood supply to a bone is decreased. For people with lupus, this can be caused by the disease or by high doses of corticosteroids. The hip joint can be affected and may cause you pain when you walk. Lupus poses special health risks for women during their childbearing years. Complications may include: Difficulty conceiving. If you're a woman with lupus, your fertility may decline during flares. Increased risk of miscarriage. The risk is usually highest early or late in your pregnancy. This risk can be minimized through careful planning and treatment. Increased risk of complications during pregnancy. A woman with lupus is more likely to experience a flare during her pregnancy. She is also at higher risk of high blood pressure, diabetes and kidney problems during pregnancy. Preterm birth is also more likely. Limited birth control options. Women with lupus may not tolerate birth control pills well, and intrauterine devices (IUDs) pose an increased risk of infection. Treatment Treatments can ease symptoms and reduce complications of lupus. Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) depends on which organs are affected and how severely. Because lupus may assume many forms, finding the most effective treatment may take time. Your doctor may recommend a variety of medications, including the following: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) such as naproxen sodium (Aleve) may reduce joint and other tissue inflammation. However, check with your doctor before taking NSAIDs regularly because some have been associated with serious side effects in people with lupus. Anti-malarial drugs. Although there's no known relationship between lupus and malaria, these medications may be useful for treating skin and joint problems and inflammation of the surface of organs like your heart and lungs. These drugs may also prevent flares of the disease. Corticosteroids. These drugs counter the inflammation of lupus, but can have serious side effects. The dosage depends on which organs are involved and how severely. Side effects of steroid use include weight gain, puffiness in your face, easy bruising, thinning of bones (osteoporosis), high blood pressure, diabetes and increased risk of infection. Your doctor may want you to take calcium and vitamin D supplements while you're taking corticosteroids to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Immunosuppressive medications. These drugs, such as azathioprine (Imuran) and cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), reduce your normal immune response. Your doctor may prescribe them if lupus is widely affecting your organs, especially your kidneys. Other medications that may be used to treat lupus include methotrexate (Rheumatrex), chlorambucil (Leukeran), cyclosporine (Neoral, Sandimmune) and mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept). Immunosuppressive medications may cause anemia and a low white blood cell count. They may also increase risk of infection and cancer. Your doctor may prescribe them if corticosteroids aren't effective, or he or she may prescribe them in conjunction with corticosteroids so that you can take a lower dose of corticosteroids and reduce the side effects. Researchers are working on developing newer treatments that don't have as many side effects. Sometimes, even with the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, your kidneys may fail. You may need kidney dialysis or, if kidney failure is permanent, a kidney transplant. Research is being done to come up with more effective treatments. Some studies with promising results have focused on blocking the expression of genes that may cause some of the symptoms of lupus. However, any treatments that might come from such research are probably many years away from development. Self-care Recognizing when your symptoms are getting worse and knowing how to treat them can reduce your chance of permanent tissue or organ damage. Early treatment can also reduce the time you spend taking higher doses of medications, which can cause serious side effects. Working with your doctor and taking medications only as prescribed are important. Because ultraviolet light can trigger a flare, wear protective clothing such as a hat, long-sleeved shirts and long pants if possible, and use sunscreens with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Avoid tanning beds and try to stay out of the sun when it's at its strongest, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. In addition, managing lupus means taking good general care of yourself. The following steps may help you stay healthy: Get adequate rest and regular exercise. Don't smoke. Smoking increases your risk of cardiovascular disease and can worsen the effects of lupus on your heart and blood vessels. Limit alcohol. Alcohol can affect your liver, kidneys, heart and muscles, and may interact with your medications. Eat a healthy, balanced diet. If you're a woman with lupus and are considering pregnancy, seek medical counseling to determine what steps you can take to ensure the safest possible pregnancy. Planning and preparing for pregnancy can help reduce risks to you and your baby. Coping skills Staying healthy with lupus takes extra effort, and coping with symptoms of the disease can be stressful. If you have lupus, you may find it helpful to practice relaxation techniques like meditation and yoga. Finding support through friends and family or an organized support group also may be helpful. To locate a support group, contact the Lupus Foundation of America or the Arthritis Foundation. By Mayo Clinic staff DS00115 January 07, 2004 (c) 1998-2004 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.com," "Mayo Clinic Health Information," "Reliable information for a healthier life" and the triple-shield Mayo logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. Regards, - Bundanya Thiza - -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, May 04, 2005 10:36 AM To: balita-anda@balita-anda.com Subject: [balita-anda] Penyakit Lupus Dear Milis Balita, Bisa dibantu kalau ada yg tahu atau punya artikel tentang penyakit Lupus. 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