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Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
About me
Graduated from Tongji Hospital affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, with a Master's degree. Specializes in various rheumatic diseases, especially proficient in dealing with complex rheumatic conditions.
Proficient in diseases
Rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Behçet's disease, Sjögren's syndrome, scleroderma, osteoarthritis, etc.
Voices
What causes headaches in lupus erythematosus?
The main causes of headaches in lupus are as follows: First, lupus cerebritis. Headache is a common symptom of lupus cerebritis, with other frequent occurrences including epileptic seizures. Second, it is associated with infectious diseases, such as catching a cold. Headache is one of the most common clinical symptoms of a cold. Third, it involves mental abnormalities. Patients may experience headaches and other discomforts related to mental abnormalities. Fourth, it is associated with cerebrovascular diseases, such as encephalitis and meningitis. Fifth, it involves cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension. Severe hypertension can manifest symptoms such as headaches and dizziness. If a patient with lupus experiences headaches, it is important to first seek a definitive diagnosis at a hospital, followed by determining a detailed treatment plan.
Rheumatic fever is not caused by a bacterium, but is a complication of a streptococcal infection.
Rheumatic fever is associated with Group A beta-hemolytic streptococcal infection and is a systemic inflammatory disease. The detailed pathogenesis is not yet very clear. Common clinical manifestations include joint pain, subcutaneous nodules, erythema marginatum, fever, chorea, and carditis. The characteristic of joint pain is that it generally does not leave joint deformities, and presents as migratory pain in the large joints of the limbs. Carditis can affect the heart valves and endocardium, primarily commonly involving the mitral or tricuspid valves. During the acute phase, penicillin antibiotics are needed for anti-infective treatment.
Is the C-reactive protein high in rheumatoid arthritis?
Rheumatoid arthritis, during the acute flare-up phase, can show an increase in C-reactive protein (CRP). After the condition has eased, there can be a significant decrease in CRP, which can initially be used to judge the recovery of the condition. The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is somewhat associated with infection by Group A beta-hemolytic streptococci. Clinically, it primarily presents as migratory pain in the large joints of the limbs and generally does not cause joint deformities; this is an important marker for differentiating it from rheumatoid arthritis. In the acute phase of rheumatoid arthritis, treatment is mainly symptomatic, predominantly using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as etoricoxib or diclofenac sodium sustained-release capsules to alleviate symptoms.
Systemic lupus erythematosus has several symptoms, including:
Common manifestations of lupus include facial butterfly rash, discoid rash, photosensitivity, joint pain or arthritis, mental symptoms, recurrent oral ulcers, hair loss, foamy urine, etc. Patients with mesenteric vasculitis as the initial symptom mainly complain of abdominal pain and bloating. If the hematological system is the initial symptom, the main complaint is usually fatigue. If the patient presents with a seizure as the initial symptom, the main manifestation is limb convulsions. The heterogeneity of lupus is strong, and different patients can exhibit completely different clinical manifestations.
What does early lupus erythematosus look like?
In the early stages of lupus erythematosus, symptoms such as fever, rash, joint pain, oral ulcers, and hair loss may occur. Lupus erythematosus is a heterogeneous disease that can present a variety of clinical symptoms. This disease can affect multiple systems and organs throughout the body, leading to different clinical manifestations depending on the target organ involved. For example, patients with pulmonary interstitial fibrosis may experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, and difficulty breathing; if the heart is affected, significant pericardial effusion may occur, possibly leading to difficulty breathing. The specific pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus is still unclear. It is more commonly seen in females. Therefore, there is currently no specific cure for systemic lupus erythematosus, and the treatment mainly involves long-term maintenance with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants.
Symptoms of lupus cerebritis
Symptoms of lupus cerebritis can range from mild to severe. Mild symptoms include migraines, personality changes, memory loss, or mild cognitive impairment. Severe cases may present with cerebrovascular accidents, coma, status epilepticus, and other central nervous system symptoms, including aseptic meningitis, cerebrovascular disease, demyelinating syndrome, headaches, movement disorders, spinal cord disease, epileptic seizures, acute mental confusion, anxiety, cognitive impairment, mood disturbances, and psychiatric disorders. Peripheral nervous system manifestations include Guillain-Barre syndrome, autonomic dysfunction, mononeuritis, myasthenia gravis, cranial nerve disorders, nerve plexus disorders, and polyneuritis.
What should I do if rheumatoid arthritis deforms the knee joint?
Rheumatoid arthritis and knee joint deformity are serious conditions that may require joint replacement surgery. For less serious cases, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as etoricoxib or celecoxib, are generally used to treat and alleviate symptoms. The onset of rheumatoid arthritis is associated with streptococcal infections. Clinically, joint deformities are rare, so if joint deformity occurs, it is important to investigate the possibility of rheumatoid arthritis. Since rheumatoid arthritis is an immune-mediated erosive arthritis that can lead to bone destruction and joint deformity, rheumatoid factor and anti-CCP antibodies can be tested for diagnostic differentiation.
Can people with rheumatoid arthritis eat millet porridge?
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis can safely consume millet porridge, as it is highly nutritious and does not affect rheumatoid arthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis is somewhat associated with streptococcal infections, and clinically it mainly presents as migratory pain in the major joints of the limbs. With the widespread use of penicillin in recent years, the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis has become increasingly low. Nowadays, it is occasionally seen in clinical practice, mainly among patients with repeated streptococcal infections, such as those with recurrent tonsillitis, who may experience episodes of rheumatoid arthritis. In such cases, removing the cause can generally achieve clinical cure. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and penicillin antibiotics can be used to treat acute episodes.
Does rheumatic fever cause an increase in body temperature?
Rheumatic fever may lead to increased body temperature; fever is one of the common clinical manifestations of rheumatic fever, primarily associated with streptococcal infections. Other common symptoms of rheumatic fever include joint pain or arthritis, erythema marginatum, subcutaneous nodules, chorea, and carditis. During the acute phase, penicillin antibiotics can be used to treat the infection. At the same time, it is important to rest adequately and consume high-quality protein foods to ensure sufficient nutrition and calories. Foods rich in high-quality protein such as lean meat, milk, and eggs should be consumed appropriately. In addition, symptomatic treatment is also crucial. For arthritis, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be used, and corticosteroids are necessary for treating carditis.
Can people with rheumatoid arthritis drink red bean and coix seed beverage?
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis can drink red bean and coix seed beverage, which does not significantly affect the condition and is rich in proteins, potentially aiding in recovery. Rheumatoid arthritis is a common rheumatic disease, related to infections by streptococci. With the widespread use of penicillin in recent years, the incidence of rheumatoid arthritis has been decreasing. Currently, it is mainly seen in patients with recurrent streptococcal infections, such as those who frequently suffer from tonsillitis, which increases their likelihood of developing rheumatoid arthritis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis should maintain a light diet and can appropriately consume more high-quality protein foods, such as lean meat, milk, and eggs, while avoiding or reducing spicy and stimulating foods.