Lupus
- Isoniazid which is used in the treatment of Tuberculosis or TB
- A medication prescribed for cardiac arrhythmias called Procainamide branded as Pronesty
- Hydralazine which is controlling medicine for elevated blood pressure or hypertension marketed under the label, Apresoline
Is there any other method used to determine whether drugs are causing Lupus symptoms?
There is a blood test for systemic lupus which identifies and highlights antinuclear antibodies or ANA. The majority of those with drug induced lupus are often ANA negative. The medical profession does not use this test on a precautionary and regular basis rather like screening. Instead, they wait for patients to report adverse reactions and then, depending on their nature or severity, run bloods at that point.
What action is taken after a DIL diagnosis?
The medication is stopped with immediate effect, no tapering withdrawal period. Despite this urgent action, symptoms can take weeks to recede and die down. Such is the peculiarity and uniqueness of the human immune system that symptoms can develop years into a long-term drug regime, hence the difficulties associated with detecting the cause. [RELATED] An alternative remedy needs to be selected with care to manage the primary condition. There is no scientific data to support the claim that DIL will in turn metamorphosed into the full lupus condition.Is there a particular type of person more vulnerable to drug induced lupus?
There are some indicators that men are more prone to succumb than women but this has been attributed to the fact that they are prescribed these medications more frequently statistically. Evidence suggests that men aged over 50 are more likely to contract DIL but this may just be a response to an immune system altering with age. Drug induced lupus is distinct from merely adverse side effects although this is not to trivialise the latter. Most takers comprehend contraindications, that dire list in the pill packet, but not so many anticipate they could acquire a whole new disease. The Dean of Pharmacy at the University of California maintains this is an artificial distinction, purely “a matter of semantics”. Any compromise or complications to regular bodily functions is a disease.Article References:
- https://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2016/january2016/drug-induced-autoimmune-diseases
- https://www.lupus.org/resources/the-ana-test-for-drug-induced-lupus
What is Lupus and what causes Lupus?
Lupus disease is an auto immune malfunction; the immune system basically goes into overdrive and attacks the body it is designed to protect. Similar to Psoriasis although not just confined to the skin, it is a totally pervasive and systemic condition. The full name is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or SLE which reflects its ability to impact on almost any part or system of the body. [RELATED] What causes Lupus is unknown. Scientists and clinicians understand the process occurring within the human body, essentially the immune system has lost the ability to differentiate between healthy tissue and unwelcome invaders or antigens. They know that specific things can trigger it such as stress but what causes Lupus to develop in one person and not another eludes the researchers still.Is it possible to determine the signs of Lupus or are they confused with other illnesses?
Because of the many manifestations of Lupus, mixing it up with another issue is quite probable. The signs of Lupus are so wide-ranging, essentially revolving around inflammation which can occur almost anywhere in the body. Add into the mix periods of remission and normal life activity and you get the idea that Lupus is a complex disorder.
Medics at the American College of Rheumatology have narrowed down the signs of Lupus to around a dozen including but not limited to:
- a skin rash which is butterfly shaped plus other raised angry patches or weals
- a high protein count in a urine sample
- Sensitivity to light
- Arthritis or aching, inflammation and soreness in at least two joints
- Fever
- Positive ANA – Anti Nuclear Antibody – blood test
Can my ordinary practitioner make a Lupus diagnosis?
A family doctor or GP would not have sufficient knowledge or specialism to offer a definitive Lupus diagnosis. Instead, he will likely refer you with the available symptomatic evidence plus clinical history to a specialist treatment center offering both diagnosis and ongoing treatment guidelines and treatment options.Lupus Treatment Centers
In the UK, a nationwide network of treatment centers of excellence was established at large hospitals throughout the country reflecting the disparate and diverse symptoms of Lupus and the wide variety of treatment options. [RELATED] The stated aim was to create the best treatment centres for focal and specialist care for Lupus patients in locations which offered a breadth of knowledge and collaborative medicine. Across the pond, the Lupus Foundation of America is doing the self-same thing, aiming to centralise expertise and know-how so that Lupus is treated holistically rather than within differing branches of medicine.What actual treatments are there available for Lupus?
Because Lupus does not have a cure as such, treatment options center around symptomatic management combined with cutting edge research to advance diagnosis and the ultimate quest for a solution.
There are medications both oral and injectable which are used to control the symptoms of Lupus. Your prescription will depend wholly on your particular needs and lifestyle challenges. Here is a brief summary of some drugs you might expect to see on the pharmacist’s list for Lupus treatment:
- Anti-inflammatory medication must be top of the list, the most commonly prescribed variant for Lupus dealing with discomfort and pain and the imperative to break the destructive cycle of inflammation but sometimes, over the counter options like Ibuprofen are all that is needed. These are denoted as Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatories or NSAID, a more appropriate starting point than steroids due to fewer side effects but still not to be popped like Smarties, higher doses require a prescription.
- Antimalarials, Plaquenil or Aralen, often used in conjunction with other remedies like steroids, they are commonly the drug of choice for mouth ulcers and rashes and lesions on the skin, they have fewer adverse reactions than steroids.
- Immunosuppressives developed to cool down the overactive immune system, often a choice of last resort as they carry serious side effects.
- Corticosteroids, sometimes required during an acute flare-up, most popularly Prednisolone, usually in tablet form but can be administered intravenously. High dosages are always tapered off as soon as possible.
- Anticoagulants because of the propensity of Lupus to cause life-threatening blood clots, so Heparin and Warfarin.
Article References:
- https://www.healthline.com/health/celebrities-with-lupus#1
- https://www.webmd.com/arthritis/psoriatic-arthritis/qa/what-are-the-11-signs-of-lupus
- https://www.lupusuk.org.uk/centres-of-excellence/
- https://www.lupus.org/
What is lupus rash disease; meaning and definition
Lupus rash disease, also referred to as cutaneous lupus, occurs in three main forms. Depending on the form, different types of skin bumps and lesions will develop. The lesions will appear on parts of the body that are exposed to direct UV rays mainly from the sun. These include the arms, legs and the face. [RELATED] To treat lupus of the skin, a dermatologist will first need to conduct a biopsy. This is aimed at uncovering the form of cutaneous lupus that is being experienced. Diagnosis criteria is also used to help in this matter.Forms of lupus rash skin disease
As we saw earlier, there are three main forms of cutaneous lupus. There are long and detailed scientific explanations for lupus on sites such as Wikipedia. For now, though, we will focus on the main details you should know about lupus of the skin.
Depending on the type, different symptoms and treatment options are available. The forms include:
Chronic cutaneous lupus
This form is also referred to as discoid lupus. With this form, circular lesions will appear, mainly on the scalp. These lesions are painless. The giveaway characteristics are reddened, firm and scaly appearance. When the lesions are healed, scarring will be left behind. Affected scalp areas will also experience the loss of hair as it falls out.
1 in every 10 individuals with this form will ultimately have the disease spread to other body organs. At other times, patients with systematic lupus will only initially experience the symptoms of discoid lupus.
Cancer has also been observed to develop in patients who did not receive treatment. At home, natural treatment revolves around protective measures to keep away from direct exposure to artificial and natural sources of light.
Subacute cutaneous lupus
Reddened patches that are filled with lesions are most common with this form of lupus. No pain or itchiness will result from the lesions.
With time, the lesions will heal naturally. They do not leave scars but often cause some transformations on the skin. Lupus symptoms such as fever and fatigue are rare in this case.
Again, this form mainly attacks parts of the body that often become exposed to direct sunlight. Preventive measures that revolve around protecting from UV rays should be taken.
Acute cutaneous lupus
Think of what a butterfly would look like, if placed or tattooed on the cheekbones, so that the wings are to settle on either side of the cheekbones. In this form of lupus skin disease, a rash resembling such a butterfly will develop.
Patients with systematic lupus are more likely to develop this form. Like the previous forms, this rash will not itch or cause pain. It can, however, lead to skin irritation as well as discoloration.
Other skin diseases related to lupus skin disease:
Sensitivity to light
Even with artificial lighting such as florescent bulbs, the skin will become irritated. However, the reaction to exposure to sun is more violent.
Patients are advised to avoid such exposures or use protective creams and clothing. Sunscreens with Helioplex are most recommended.
[RELATED]
Oral sores
Symptoms in men and women include sores occurring around and in the oral region. They are very similar to canker sores or sores that develop after you remove skin tags.
A doctor can prescribe a mouthwash to reduce the pain or discomfort resulting from such sores. This also hastens the recovery process.
Raynaud’s syndrome
Constriction of vessels that supply blood to the toes and fingers causes this syndrome. Here, the affected areas will develop a blue coloration.
Gloves and socks should be worn to prevent the worst symptoms related to this syndrome.
Cutaneous vasculitis
In this case, normal blood flow is inhibited by constriction of blood vessels near the surface of the skin. With time, lesions will form which end up in dead tissues on the skin. Initially, you can take the lesions formed in this case for a mole on the face or something similar.
Surgical removal can be performed to remove the dead tissues. In cases where large ulcers develop on fingers, the affected parts may need to be amputated.
Hives
Hives are the lesions that form in case of an allergic reaction. They will almost certainly itch and cause discomfort. Since hives due to allergies do not last long, a doctor should be notified if they are last more than a day.
Petechiae
Small and reddened lesions on the skin may develop on the legs. This is caused by a diminished platelet count in the blood. Platelets are blood organs that control clotting of blood to prevent from excessive bleeding.
Loss of hair
Although some other conditions can cause aggravated loss of small hairs on the skin, the same is common in lupus rash patients. The eyebrows and scalp are most affected.
Diagnosing cutaneous lupus symptoms:
Doctors usually perform a skin biopsy. Here, a sample piece of the skin will be taken and viewed under a microscope. Blood samples will also be collected for examination.
Lupus symptoms in children are rare and minimal when they occur. It is in fact very possible that you are mistaking other health conditions for lupus symptoms in children. The condition usually develops after the patient is over fourteen years of age.
How is lupus disease and symptoms in children or adults treated?
You find that lupus symptoms in women are more common than symptoms in men. Symptoms in children are rare, especially with children under the age of 14 years. Statistics show that 9 in every 10 cases of lupus will be reported in women in the child-bearing age.
The particular treatment option settled on depends on the form being treated. Creams are frequently used, although injections with artificial hormones may be considered. Rarely will surgical options such as amputation be considered.
In most cases, corticosteroids are used to treat lupus, regardless of its form. They are mostly available in gels, ointments and creams.
Doctors also use a variety of active treatment options such as retinoids, antimalarial drugs, and vitamin A.
Generally, a long list of available treatment options is available for both management and treatment of lupus. The best approach is to be on the lookout for lupus symptoms and notify a doctor.
Since the symptoms can also be experienced in other health conditions, a clinical diagnosis is the only way you can be certain that it is lupus that you are dealing with. In fact, even in a clinic, a doctor may depend on diagnosis criteria. In this case, more than 4 symptoms will need to be identified.
Preventing lupus symptoms in females and men
Like many health conditions, including a skin tag on eyelid and such, the exact cause of lupus is not known. It is, however, understood that the disease develops when the immune system mistakes some body cells and organs for foreign agents. [RELATED] For this reason, keeping away from factors known to trigger lupus or worsen its symptoms is of vital importance. This also includes learning what lupus does and what it means. One of the main protective measures is protecting from direct or long exposures to sun and UV light. You can achieve this by applying sunscreens or staying indoors. Clothing such as sleeved shirts and full dresses can also help. If the lupus disease is active, patients are advised to see a doctor. In clinics, doctors will prescribe or advise on the best sunscreen product to make use of.Lupus definition; complications related to the skin disease
If lupus skin disease does not develop to systematic lupus, the main complications that may develop revolve around losing skin pigmentation and scarring. This mainly occurs during hot seasons such as the summer.
Major complications arise when the disease develops into systemic lupus. In this case, vital organs such as the heart and kidneys will become inflamed. Without treatment, such complications are fatal. It is very important that clinical treatment be sought in such cases.
The problem is that the symptoms of lupus flare-up and remits after some time. For this reason, most people will either ignore or mistake the symptoms.
Other complications include loss of skin hair and depression.
Can lupus skin disease be treated at home?
You will find a list of home remedies such as apple cider vinegar being advertised for a variety of skin conditions treatment. Home remedies will help reduce inflammations or discomfort caused by lupus rash. Some such as omega fatty acids, vitamin D supplements and probiotics can aid in active prevention and managed of lupus. [RELATED] While home remedies can be used without consulting a doctor when treating conditions such as bumps on the penis, it is not the same for lupus. Always make sure that your doctor is aware of any measures taken to treat lupus with home remedies. Home treatment for lupus can be compared with scabies treatment. Although you can succeed in getting rid or easing the symptoms, only clinical removal can succeed in wholly treating or managing the condition itself. [post_title] => What is Lupus rash disease – definition, its symptoms in men, women and children. [post_excerpt] => [post_status] => publish [comment_status] => closed [ping_status] => closed [post_password] => [post_name] => what-is-lupus-rash-disease-definition-its-symptoms-in-men-women-and-children [to_ping] => [pinged] => [post_modified] => 2018-04-02 13:20:00 [post_modified_gmt] => 2018-04-02 13:20:00 [post_content_filtered] => [post_parent] => 0 [guid] => https://skinanswer.com/?p=1011 [menu_order] => 0 [post_type] => post [post_mime_type] => [comment_count] => 0 [filter] => raw ) ) [post_count] => 3 [current_post] => -1 [in_the_loop] => [post] => WP_Post Object ( [ID] => 1007 [post_author] => 1 [post_date] => 2019-04-22 05:13:56 [post_date_gmt] => 2019-04-22 05:13:56 [post_content] => Generally, whilst much is understood about the modus operandi of Lupus, the jury is still out on the causation. Research has identified the processes systemically within the body but not why one person is affected and another free of it. So, it is fair to conclude, that the precise cause of Lupus is yet to be accurately identified with one notable exception, Drug Induced Lupus the mnemonic for which is DIL or DILE, Drug Induced Lupus Erythematosus. DILE was first officially recognised way back in 1945, the offending therapy was Sulfadiazine.What is drug induced lupus?
No great mystery, DIL is lupus caused by the use of certain medications, commonly over a long period of time. These substances alter the body’s immune response, actuating a form of lupus due to lengthy over exposure. Drug induced lupus does not affect everyone; in a controlled sample of users, matched in age and exhibiting identical health concerns, some will develop drug induced lupus whilst others remain unaffected.Is drug induced Lupus the same as SLE – Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?
The symptoms of SLE are very similar to medically induced lupus which is an alternative moniker for DIL. Flu-like symptoms, unusual or left field blood test results and joint pain are typically shared reactions in both scenarios. [RELATED] Certainty can be established by the withdrawal or cessation of the offending remedies following which the condition should disappear totally.Are there known Lupus medications which can cause drug induced lupus?
There is a rogues’ gallery of key offenders which have form in instigating drug induced lupus. They demonstrate the complex balancing act of the physician who must weigh one risk against another, particularly if the drug of choice is the only or best option for the patient. These compound medications are used to treat significant diseases and so their recommendation is not undertaken lightly. There are actually 46 known remedies which have the potential to activate DIL including chemotherapy drugs and significant pain medications but in reality, the risks are negligible for all but three of them. The trio of principle protagonists are:-
- Isoniazid which is used in the treatment of Tuberculosis or TB
- A medication prescribed for cardiac arrhythmias called Procainamide branded as Pronesty
- Hydralazine which is controlling medicine for elevated blood pressure or hypertension marketed under the label, Apresoline
Is there any other method used to determine whether drugs are causing Lupus symptoms?
There is a blood test for systemic lupus which identifies and highlights antinuclear antibodies or ANA. The majority of those with drug induced lupus are often ANA negative. The medical profession does not use this test on a precautionary and regular basis rather like screening. Instead, they wait for patients to report adverse reactions and then, depending on their nature or severity, run bloods at that point.
What action is taken after a DIL diagnosis?
The medication is stopped with immediate effect, no tapering withdrawal period. Despite this urgent action, symptoms can take weeks to recede and die down. Such is the peculiarity and uniqueness of the human immune system that symptoms can develop years into a long-term drug regime, hence the difficulties associated with detecting the cause. [RELATED] An alternative remedy needs to be selected with care to manage the primary condition. There is no scientific data to support the claim that DIL will in turn metamorphosed into the full lupus condition.Is there a particular type of person more vulnerable to drug induced lupus?
There are some indicators that men are more prone to succumb than women but this has been attributed to the fact that they are prescribed these medications more frequently statistically. Evidence suggests that men aged over 50 are more likely to contract DIL but this may just be a response to an immune system altering with age. Drug induced lupus is distinct from merely adverse side effects although this is not to trivialise the latter. Most takers comprehend contraindications, that dire list in the pill packet, but not so many anticipate they could acquire a whole new disease. The Dean of Pharmacy at the University of California maintains this is an artificial distinction, purely “a matter of semantics”. Any compromise or complications to regular bodily functions is a disease.Article References:
- https://www.pharmacytimes.com/publications/issue/2016/january2016/drug-induced-autoimmune-diseases
- https://www.lupus.org/resources/the-ana-test-for-drug-induced-lupus
Lupus is an autoimmune disease. It occurs when immune cells mistakenly attack healthy tissues. This results in acute and chronic inflammation which can lead to systematic organ failure and death. The type that predominantly affects the skin is known as cutaneous lupus. Most cases are reported in middle aged women although anyone can be affected. Learn more about signs, types, causes and lupus treatment here.
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Drug induced Lupus erythematosus – all causes and best medications to treat it.
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Lupus, not the most well-known disease around, the limelight frequently stolen by cancer and heart disease. Lupus is a lifelong, chronic plague and there are
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What is Lupus rash disease – definition, its symptoms in men, women and children.
Lupus patients will almost certainly experience some sort of skin condition. A lupus rash is common, which will keep flaring-up and reoccurring, depending on how
