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Lupus Erythematosus
Can lupus be inherited?
Lupus erythematosus is not a genetic disease, but it is a disease with a genetic predisposition. This means that genetic diseases refer to monogenic diseases, including albinism, color blindness, etc., which are determined by a pair of alleles. However, lupus erythematosus is a disease with a genetic predisposition, determined by multiple genes. Although lupus erythematosus is not a genetic disease, if your parents have lupus erythematosus, the chance of the next generation developing lupus erythematosus is about 1% to 16%. This relationship is especially significant between mothers and daughters, and among sisters. Genetic factors account for approximately 20% of the importance in the development of lupus erythematosus. Only the combination of genetic factors and environmental factors together can lead to the occurrence of lupus erythematosus.
Does lupus cause itchy skin?
The rash in patients with lupus erythematosus is generally not noticeably itchy. In patients with lupus erythematosus, the characteristic changes include a butterfly-shaped rash on the bridge of the nose and cheeks. The skin lesions of lupus erythematosus include photosensitivity, hair loss, erythema on the palms and soles and around the nails, discoid lupus, nodular erythematosus, seborrheic dermatitis, livedo reticularis, and Raynaud's phenomenon, among others. Generally, there is no noticeable itching. If significant itching occurs, it suggests an allergy. Itchy rash after immunosuppressive treatment should be monitored for fungal infections. Lupus patients receiving steroid and immunosuppressive therapy, if experiencing unexplained localized skin burning, may be showing early signs of herpes zoster and should seek prompt medical attention at a hospital.
Lupus erythematosus taking steroids side effects
Patients with lupus mainly use steroid treatment, but steroids have many side effects during their application, such as increased blood pressure, inducing or exacerbating infections, inducing or aggravating peptic ulcers, necrosis of the femoral head, osteoporosis and vertebral compressive fractures, delaying wound healing in injured patients, increasing blood sugar, etc. Additionally, steroids can cause nervous sensitivity, agitation, insomnia, emotional changes, and even apparent mental symptoms, inducing seizures such as epilepsy. Some patients may also have suicidal tendencies. Therefore, it is necessary to use medication rationally under the guidance of a doctor, reduce the dosage timely, and effectively prevent and treat to minimize the occurrence of side effects. Taking steroids can also lead to weight gain; hair loss is relatively less common. The occurrence of side effects varies among individuals and should be tailored to the patient's specific condition.
Can people with lupus eat beef?
For patients with lupus, we recommend eating less beef. This is because our dietary guidelines for lupus patients are: high protein, low fat, low salt, low sugar, and foods rich in various vitamins and calcium. Since beef is a high-phenylamine protein food, it is advised to consume less of it. Patients can eat some fish, lean meat, chicken, and duck, depending on their financial situation, to supplement the protein lost in the kidneys but should not eat too much to avoid indigestion. The diet for lupus patients should be light, and when cooking, food should not be too oily or too spicy.
Can people with lupus eat mangoes?
For patients with lupus erythematosus, we recommend caution in consuming mangoes. Mangoes are among the fruits that commonly cause allergies. After allergic reactions, most people develop rashes, and skin redness is a symptom of lupus erythematosus. If an allergy is triggered, it can worsen the redness and may also be confused with the rash associated with lupus patients. We can eat some grapes, as grapes are a nourishing food that promotes health and longevity. We can also eat some watermelons, which are rich in water and act as a natural nutrient solution, containing various nutrients. However, the intake of food should not be excessive.
What foods are good for lupus erythematosus?
The diet for patients with lupus erythematosus varies from person to person. Generally, the ideal food for lupus patients should have the following characteristics: an appropriate amount of high-quality protein, low fat, low salt, low sugar, and rich in vitamins and calcium. Since many lupus patients often have significant kidney damage, proteins are frequently lost in large amounts through the urine, causing hypoalbuminemia and edema. The supplementation of protein should primarily consist of high-quality animal proteins, such as milk, eggs, and lean meats. However, protein intake should also be appropriate and not excessive. Excessive intake can not only lead to incomplete absorption by the patient, increasing the burden on the gastrointestinal tract, but also increase the excretion of nitrogenous compounds in the body, further burdening the kidneys. Lupus patients should avoid or minimize consumption of foods that can enhance photosensitivity, such as figs, rapeseed, cilantro, and celery. If consumed, they should avoid sun exposure afterwards. Mushrooms, smoked foods, and certain food dyes can also trigger lupus and should be avoided or minimized in the diet.
What should I do if I have a fever with lupus erythematosus?
When patients with lupus experience fever, the fundamental approach is the use of ample steroids or other immunosuppressive drugs for treatment, which generally can quickly normalize body temperature. However, some patients may also experience fever during steroid use, possibly due to the steroids reducing immune function and inducing a bacterial infection. At this point, it is necessary to find evidence of infection and promptly treat with adequate sensitive antibiotics. Then, there will certainly be questions about why patients with lupus who have a fever cannot use antibacterial drugs or antipyretics. This is because fever in lupus patients is often an important indicator of disease activity. During acute phases, the fever is typically high, not caused by external infections, thus antibacterial drugs are ineffective. Using antipyretics can temporarily normalize body temperature, but once the effect of the medication wears off, the high fever may recur. Patients with lupus should not casually use medications. If medication is needed, it should be used under the guidance of a doctor.
What should I do if lupus causes hair loss?
What should be done when a lupus patient experiences hair loss? Patients with lupus should keep their hair clean in daily life, not use too much shampoo when washing their hair, avoid dyeing or perming their hair, and reduce the damage to hair from chemical products. This prevents rashes or worsening rashes caused by allergies to hair dyes and damage to hair quality from perming. If hair loss occurs due to the effect of medications, patients can choose to wear a wig during treatment. After chemotherapy ends, new hair will grow, so patients need not worry excessively. Maintaining a pleasant mood is also quite important for recovery from the disease. The basic pathological change in lupus patients is vasculitis. When the small blood vessels in the skin become inflamed, the nutrient supply to the hair follicles is disrupted, which can easily lead to hair loss and affect hair growth. Generally, hair can regrow after the disease is controlled. If hair loss occurs again, it could be a symptom of a disease relapse.
What are the symptoms of the early stage of lupus erythematosus?
The main symptom in the early stage of lupus is the appearance of a butterfly-shaped rash on the face, with most patients initially exhibiting these rashes, some of which are not butterfly-shaped. The rash can also appear on fingers, palms, and around the nails. Additionally, over 80% of patients experience unexplained fevers, which are irregular and can sometimes reach up to 40 degrees Celsius. Some patients also experience joint pain in the early stages of the disease, mainly starting with pain in larger joints such as the elbows, knees, and ankles. If joint pain is accompanied by fever, rash, and a decrease in white blood cells, it is advisable to promptly visit a hospital for an examination to check for lupus. Some patients may also experience Raynaud's phenomenon and photosensitivity in the early stages of lupus. There are no fixed symptoms in the early stages of lupus; it is mainly important to observe oneself regularly and seek medical attention if feeling unwell.
Can lupus be treated without steroids?
Hormones are currently the first choice of drugs for treating lupus erythematosus, and there are no other drugs that can replace them temporarily, so we still recommend using hormones for treatment. Hormones can quickly and effectively suppress the immune response, reducing the damage to the patient's body from the inflammatory substances released during the immune response. This kind of immune-suppressive and anti-inflammatory action is a protective therapeutic effect on the body. Although long-term use of large doses of hormones has certain side effects, it can quickly block the development of the disease and alleviate the condition. The function of hormones cannot be replaced by any other drug at present, so, no matter what stage the lupus erythematosus patients are in and regardless of the type of damage, hormones are the first choice of drugs. Hormones have many side effects, therefore, we need to use hormone drugs for treatment rationally and standardized under the guidance of a doctor, and should not take them arbitrarily to avoid serious consequences.