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

Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
Updated on September 14, 2024
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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
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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
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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 Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
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Systemic lupus erythematosus symptoms

The symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus mainly include fever, oral ulcers, facial erythema, including discoid and malar rash, photosensitivity, joint pain, polyserositis, including pleural effusion and pericardial effusion, as well as kidney involvement. The main manifestations are positive urinary protein, hematuria, and casts in the urine. Severe cases may have neurological involvement, presenting as epilepsy, mental disorders, or altered consciousness. Blood tests in these patients can further reveal positive ANA, anti-double-stranded DNA, and anti-Sm antibodies, as well as low complement levels. These are the related symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Test Items

First, if there are symptoms such as facial erythema, butterfly rash, joint pain, hair loss, or even stillbirth or miscarriage, systemic lupus erythematosus should be suspected. For systemic lupus erythematosus, related medical tests are necessary, including complete blood count, urinalysis, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, 13 autoantibody tests, and anticardiolipin antibodies. These are the primary and most basic tests, specifically the 13 autoantibody tests. If the diagnosis is confirmed based on these tests, further assessments such as heart evaluation, chest CT need to be perfected. When necessary, 24-hour urine protein quantitation and kidney biopsy should be performed to assess the damage to the kidneys and the severity of the condition, mainly influencing the subsequent treatment plan.

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Written by Li Jing
Rheumatology
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Initial symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple systems and organs and is associated with a variety of autoimmune antibodies, primarily occurring in women of childbearing age. Its clinical manifestations are diverse, with the condition being mild and recurrently evolving. The most common symptoms involve changes to the skin, where various types of edematous erythema can occur, and in severe cases, there can be blisters, ulcers, erosion, skin atrophy, hyperpigmentation, and scar formation. Among these, the butterfly rash is most specific. Additionally, other symptoms may include joint swelling and pain; kidney involvement can lead to foamy urine, which is a common presentation; gastrointestinal involvement can cause diarrhea, and neurological involvement can lead to mental disorders and seizures. Therefore, once facial rashes, photosensitivity, or joint swelling and pain occur, it is crucial to be vigilant, undergo relevant examinations promptly, diagnose early, and treat early, as it is very important for the prognosis of the disease.