![]() Cutaneous lupus is often triggered by sun exposure that damages skin cells. Cutaneous lupus happens when the immune system attacks the skin. It has similar symptoms to SLE, but the symptoms go away once the patient stops taking the medication. Drug-induced lupus is caused by taking certain medications. It is a chronic condition, which means it will continue to worsen unless it is properly treated. There are four main types of lupus SLE, drug-induced lupus, cutaneous lupus, and neonatal lupus. (B) In the normal situation, when damaged cells die, certain cells of the body clean up the debris so no immune complexes are formed, and disease does not result. ![]() The immune complexes can end up in various organs, including the skin, contributing to the symptoms generally seen in SLE, like malar rash. B cells make antibodies that recognize this debris and stick it together into clumps called immune complexes.Figure 1 - (A) In SLE, cells that are damaged by environmental factors like sunlight or heat can die, and the body’s immune system does not clean up the dead cell debris properly.Once these complexes land in the tissues, they cause an inflammatory response, which leads to the symptoms we see in SLE patients. These immune complexes then get stuck in various tissues such as the skin, joints, heart, and kidneys. Some of the antibodies produced by the B cells stick to the dead cell parts and form clumps that are called immune complexes ( Figure 1). B cells create antibodies, which are like tiny soldiers that normally fight against the germs that can make us sick. In response to the buildup of cell debris, the body calls on the B cells, which are cells of the immune system that help protect the body from harmful germs. In SLE, the immune system cannot clear the debris from the damaged cells, which then build up in the bloodstream. In healthy people, their immune system usually clean up dead cells. Įssentially, SLE can be triggered by any damage to cells that leads to cell death. Certain people are more likely to develop autoimmune diseases due to a combination of their genes and factors in their environments, like certain viruses, sunlight, pollution, smoking, or certain medicines. To understand autoimmune diseases in general, we must figure out why they occur. Lupus affects nearly five million people around the world, with 15% of those cases being kids under 18. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of many autoimmune diseases. However, sometimes the immune system can become overactive and begin attacking the body’s own healthy tissue. The human immune system is programmed to help us fight against things that make us sick, like bacteria, viruses, and cancers. Additionally, it features a conversation with a lupus patient Miah who shares her journey and challenges living with this chronic condition, along with advice for others dealing with lupus. The diagnosis and treatment methods, including medications and lifestyle adjustments, are also highlighted. We will also detail how lupus affects different organ systems. In this article, we detail the four types of lupus: SLE, drug-induced, cutaneous, and neonatal lupus. ![]() It is important for patients to get an accurate diagnosis so that they can be treated as quickly as possible, to prevent further damage to the body’s tissues. Lupus is not a preventable disease and it can leave people with devastating symptoms that range from joint pain to kidney failure. Autoimmune diseases happen when the immune system attacks the body’s own cells instead of things like infections or cancers. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems.
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