Lupus << LOO puhs >> is the name of any of a group of diseases that affect the skin. The word generally refers to the disease lupus erythematosus. But it may also refer to lupus vulgaris, which is a tuberculosis of the skin of the face. This article discusses lupus erythematosus.
The most serious form of lupus erythematosus is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which attacks many internal organs as well as the skin. People with SLE have such symptoms as fever, painful and swollen joints, and a butterfly-shaped rash across the nose and cheekbones. They also may suffer sores in the mouth and nose, lose their hair, and be sensitive to sunlight. Most victims are women from 15 to 35 years old. SLE occurs about four times as frequently in blacks as in whites.
The basic cause of SLE is unknown. However, researchers believe the disease involves a breakdown of the body’s immune system. Normally, this system protects the body from infection by producing substances called antibodies, which attack harmful bacteria and viruses. In SLE, the immune system apparently produces antibodies that attack healthy tissue instead.
Mild cases of SLE require no treatment. Physicians treat more severe cases with such drugs as aspirin and cortisone, which reduce inflammation in internal organs. Severe cases of SLE can be fatal, especially if the kidneys are damaged. SLE cannot be cured completely, but most patients under treatment for the disease have no symptoms for long periods of time.
Another form of lupus, discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), affects only the skin. In rare cases, DLE may leave scars or develop into SLE.
