Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
1min 16sec home-news-image

What to do about hair loss from systemic lupus erythematosus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multi-system, multi-damage autoimmune disease, primarily manifesting in the skin and mucous membranes. Some individuals may also experience low-grade fever and hair loss, even severe hair loss. If treatment has already commenced and hair loss continues during the treatment process, it is necessary to consider whether the medication dosage is insufficient and to consider adjusting the medication dosage. If medication has been discontinued and severe hair loss reoccurs, the first consideration should be whether there is a recurrence of active disease, necessitating a visit to the hospital for tests including a complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, complement levels, and autoimmune antibodies to comprehensively assess whether the disease has relapsed. If the disease has relapsed, it is necessary to reintroduce steroids, adjust medication dosages, and combine the use of hydroxychloroquine to control the disease. (Specific medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
1min 34sec home-news-image

Can people with systemic lupus erythematosus have children?

Firstly, systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease of unknown etiology, and it can affect multiple organs including the heart, lungs, kidneys, and gastrointestinal tract. Once diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, it is essential to complete routine urine tests, 24-hour urine protein quantification, chest CT, and other related examinations to fully assess the condition and distinguish between mild, moderate, and severe cases. Treatment plans should be formulated based on the assessment of the condition. If it is purely systemic lupus erythematosus without damage to other organs and the condition is stable with reduced maintenance doses of steroids, then pregnancy can be considered. However, during pregnancy, it is crucial to regularly monitor pulmonary arterial hypertension, pulmonary artery pressure, 24-hour urine protein quantification, and kidney function. If complications such as lupus nephritis occur, treatment decisions should be based on the condition. For instance, if there is an increase in creatinine and significant proteinuria, pregnancy is not recommended as it can exacerbate the burden on the kidneys and lead to further deterioration of kidney function.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
59sec home-news-image

Can people with systemic lupus erythematosus eat black fungus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple systems and organs. It cannot be cured and can only be managed through medications to control the progression of the disease and delay complications. It commonly occurs in women of childbearing age. In the early stages, when no other organs are damaged, there are no special dietary restrictions and black fungus can be eaten. However, fruits such as figs and bayberries, which are exposed to ultraviolet light for a long period, should be avoided. If the disease affects the kidneys causing damage such as proteinuria and increased creatinine, a diet low in salt, fat, and restricted in high-quality protein is necessary. High-quality protein mainly refers to lean meats and pure milk, and consumption of black fungus should be moderated.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
1min home-news-image

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Symptom Chart

Firstly, systemic lupus erythematosus is a multi-system, multi-organ autoimmune disease that cannot be cured but can only be controlled with medication to slow the progression of the disease and prevent complications. Clinical manifestations are diverse, with most early symptoms typically being atypical, and sometimes not presenting any discomfort at all. Some individuals may experience acute onset, which can include high fever, progressive decline in platelets, and even progressive anemia, all characteristic of the acute phase. Other common symptoms include fever, skin erythema, and even ischemia of the extremities. Some people may experience joint pain, mainly in the finger joints and knee joints, as well as swelling of the lower limbs, chest tightness, and decreased exercise tolerance, which are more typical manifestations.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
1min 12sec home-news-image

Symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus recurrence

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease primarily characterized by multi-system damage and damage to multiple organs, and it is a chronic disease, meaning it cannot be cured but only controlled through medication to manage the symptoms, prevent relapses, and delay complications. Exposure to cold, fatigue, or prolonged ultraviolet radiation can trigger a relapse of the disease. The clinical manifestations of a relapse may include an increase in skin rashes compared to before, or the emergence of low-grade fever and fatigue, or joint pain, which should be taken as warning signs. Moreover, some individuals may experience severe swelling of both lower limbs, a clinical indication. Key diagnostic indicators in clinical examinations include the titers of autoimmune antibodies, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, and the levels of complement C3 and C4, which are used to comprehensively determine whether the disease has relapsed.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
1min 1sec home-news-image

Is systemic lupus erythematosus serious?

Firstly, whether systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is severe cannot be generalized. It is an autoimmune disease that cannot be completely cured and can cause damage to multiple systems and organs, leading to serious complications. Therefore, it is crucial to conduct a clinical analysis and assess the severity of the condition as mild, moderate, or severe after diagnosis. Furthermore, if severe anemia or a decrease in platelets occurs, the condition is relatively severe, and the presence of oliguria or anuria or central nervous system damage, this is known as lupus crisis. These conditions can be life-threatening, even leading to death. In such cases, the condition is relatively critical, and it is essential to actively treat and control the condition. Once the condition stabilizes, the medication dosage should be gradually reduced to maintain stability.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
52sec home-news-image

Can people with systemic lupus erythematosus drink alcohol?

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease that cannot be cured. It can only be managed with medication to control the progression of the disease, reduce recurrence, delay complications, and decrease mortality and self-harm rates. These are the main treatment objectives. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus should avoid sun exposure and, for women, the use of oral contraceptives. It is also important to avoid overwork and staying up late. Patients are generally advised to quit smoking and drinking alcohol. Therefore, patients with systemic lupus erythematosus should not consume alcohol, especially during treatment, to avoid adverse reactions with medications.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
59sec home-news-image

What medication is used for systemic lupus erythematosus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a global autoimmune disease that can involve multiple systems and organs. The cause of the disease is unclear, and it cannot be completely cured; it can only be managed through medication. However, once the condition stabilizes, the medication dosage can be gradually reduced and maintained at a low dose. The preferred treatment is corticosteroids, but if there is damage to other organs, such as pulmonary interstitial fibrosis or renal damage and proteinuria, it is necessary to combine immunosuppressants. This is done to prevent recurrence of the disease and to manage complications that may arise during the reduction of steroids. Additionally, it is crucial to be cautious about sun protection, avoid oral contraceptives, and prevent exposure to cold and overexertion. (Please take medication under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
51sec home-news-image

What is the best food to eat for systemic lupus erythematosus?

Firstly, systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that can affect multiple systems and organs and cannot be cured. It can only be managed through medications to control the progression of the disease and delay the onset of complications. Therefore, it's not about what food is good for lupus, but rather about managing any complications it may have. Some foods to avoid include tomatoes, bayberries, figs, celery, bananas, as well as other fruits and vegetables that have been exposed to prolonged sunlight. The general principle is to adopt a low-salt, low-fat diet while increasing the intake of high-quality proteins, primarily lean meats and pure milk, to boost resistance and immunity.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
1min 5sec home-news-image

Systemic lupus erythematosus is not contagious.

Firstly, systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease with an unclear cause. It can affect multiple organs including the heart, lungs, and kidneys. It is classified as an autoimmune disease and not a contagious one, so there is no need to worry about it spreading. However, this condition does have a certain genetic predisposition. For instance, if parents have systemic lupus erythematosus, then their offspring have a relatively higher chance of developing the condition compared to families without a history of the disease. Being an autoimmune disease, it cannot be cured but can only be managed with medications such as corticosteroids to control the progression of the disease. Therefore, during the course of steroid treatment, it is vital to prevent infections. Finally, it is important to emphasize once again that systemic lupus erythematosus is not contagious and does not pose a risk of transmission, so everyone can be reassured.