When singer-actor Selena Gomez took a break from her career in 2015 to handle depression after lupus diagnosis, the world took note of this autoimmune disease more seriously than before. The disease even damaged her kidneys and she got a transplant done after two years. Recently, she also opened up about the chemotherapy she underwent and how she has been handling the pressures of living with the disease. On World Lupus Day, which is observed every year on May 10, let's learn more about the disease named Systemic Lupus erythematosus (SLE) that leads our body to attack its organs, producing antibodies that target tissues and cells.
Symptoms of Lupus
The symptoms of SLE predominantly include fever, fatigue, butterfly rashes, multiple large and small joint pains, breathlessness, sometimes difficulty in swallowing, and chest pain. Persistent fatigue is also a common symptom of the disease. Those affected can also experience hair loss, a condition called Raynaud's Phenomenon in which toes and fingers become cold and numb, extreme headaches and seizures.
Affects more women than men
SLE affects millions of individuals worldwide. In India, 3.2 cases of SLE are documented per 100,000 people. However, globally women in the reproductive age range disproportionately account for up to 90 per cent of cases of the SLE. Despite recent progress in the understanding of lupus, the striking female-to-male ratio of disease incidence remains largely unexplained. According to Dr Anu Daber, Sr Consultant Rheumatology, Paras Health Gurugram, some studies point out that sex hormones play a major role in causing genetically predisposed women more vulnerable to lupus. "Estrogen specifically is likely to contribute more to the development of lupus," she said.
Research also highlights the connection between X chromosomes in women and the development of lupus, meaning in females, having two active X chromosomes would overwhelm the cellular machinery. “To prevent this, one X chromosome is inactivated in each developing cell. This process, called X-chromosome inactivation, might influence how the immune system learns to identify threats. Variations in how efficiently this inactivation occurs could potentially lead the immune system to mistakenly target the body's own tissues, contributing to autoimmune diseases like lupus,” Dr Anu explained.
Are vaccines available?
Dr. Prasad Kuvalekar, Consultant Physician of Internal Medicine, DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pimpri, Pune noted that lupus affects the skin, kidney, heart, brain joints, lungs, and blood vessels. “There are no vaccines available to prevent lupus as it's an autoimmune condition and most of the time it's genetic. There are also no preceding signs to identify its early onset,” Dr Prasad said, noting that butterfly rashes can, to some extent, be identified as an early sign.
Further, people with lupus are more susceptible to infection, cancer, and bone tissue death, since the disease and its therapies can impair the immune system. Lupus also raises complications in pregnancy problems. Dr. Prasad said that women who have lupus are more likely to miscarry. “Lupus raises the risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy and premature birth. To lessen the chance of severe consequences, doctors frequently advise deferring pregnancy until your disease has been controlled for at least six months,” he added.
How to manage Lupus?
Physical activity may be key to managing the autoimmune disorder, and the associated problems as well as ease mental stress. “Women can include low-impact exercises in their routine like yoga, tai chi, pilates, walking, and swimming. Regular exercise has been shown to have a positive impact on mental health, reducing the risk of depression and anxiety, which are common comorbidities among individuals with SLE,” Dr Anu said.
(With inputs from IANS)