What is lupus? What are the types of lupus?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease characterized by acute and chronic inflammation of various

tissues of the body. Autoimmune diseases are illnesses that occur when the body's tissues are
attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex system within the
body that is designed to fight infectious agents, such as bacteria and other foreign microbes.
One of the ways that the immune system fights infections is by producing antibodies that
bind to the microbes. People with lupus produce abnormal antibodies in their blood that
target tissues within their own body rather than foreign infectious agents. Because the
antibodies and accompanying cells of inflammation can affect tissues anywhere in the body,
lupus has the potential to affect a variety of areas. Sometimes lupus can cause disease of the
skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and/or nervous system. When only the skin is involved, the
condition is called lupus dermatitis or cutaneous lupus erythematosus. A form of lupus
dermatitis that can be isolated to the skin, without internal disease, is called discoid lupus.
When internal organs are involved, the condition is referred to as systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE).
Both discoid and systemic lupus are more common in women than men (about eight times
more common). The disease can affect all ages but most commonly begins from 20-45 years
of age. Statistics demonstrate that lupus is somewhat more frequent in African Americans and
people of Chinese and Japanese descent.
What causes lupus? Is it hereditary?
The precise reason for the abnormal autoimmunity that causes lupus is not known. Inherited
genes, viruses, ultraviolet light, and certain medications may all play some role.
Genetic factors increase the tendency of developing autoimmune diseases, and autoimmune
diseases such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and autoimmune thyroid disorders are more
common among relatives of people with lupus than the general population. Some scientists
believe that the immune system in lupus is more easily stimulated by external factors like
viruses or ultraviolet light. Sometimes, symptoms of lupus can be precipitated or aggravated
by only a brief period of sun exposure.
It also is known that some women with SLE can experience worsening of their symptoms
prior to their menstrual periods. This phenomenon, together with the female predominance of
SLE, suggests that female hormones play an important role in the expression of SLE. This
hormonal relationship is an active area of ongoing study by scientists.
More recently, research has demonstrated evidence that a key enzyme's failure to dispose of
dying cells may contribute the development of SLE. The enzyme, DNase1, normally
eliminates what is called "garbage DNA" and other cellular debris by chopping them into tiny
fragments for easier disposal. Researchers turned off the DNase1 gene in mice. The mice
appeared healthy at birth, but after six to eight months, the majority of mice without DNase1
showed signs of SLE. Thus, a genetic mutation in a gene that could disrupt the body's cellular
waste disposal may be involved in the initiation of SLE.

Lupus Symptoms in Women

One Patient's Story
By Mr. D.R.
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel Jr., MD, FACP, FACR
So many people have had comments like, "I had no idea Susan was so sick." That was
because Susan did not want anybody to know.
Because lupus is such a crafty disease and flies under the general public's radar, this is
a good opportunity to clear things up.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, not an infectious disease like HIV. People with lupus
have an overactive immune system. The body's defenses actually attack healthy tissue.
This has been happening to Susan for 30 years or more.
She was diagnosed around 1990, but she had symptoms way before then. Originally, the
disease would manifest itself as flu-like symptoms for about three weeks out of every three
months, with fatigue extending a month after every flare-up.
In 2000, lupus attacked her central nervous system and involved her brain. The original result
of this new development was pain. From late in January 2000 until the day before she died,
she was in pain. On the scale of 1 to 10, there was no day that she didn't feel pain on an 8 to
10 level. (With 10 being all-encompassing.)
Lupus attacked her lungs, causing shortness of breath, sleeping problems, and more pain in
the form of pleurisy. In addition to Hashimoto's thyroiditis (causing cold extremities) and
Sjogren's syndrome (extremely dry eyes) and a few more isms that I have forgotten, life was
getting difficult.
Read on as Susan battles lupus »

Top Searched Lupus Terms:

lupus disease, skin, rash, butterfly rash, lupus myositis, kidney disease,
treatment, genetic, anticoagulant, diet, hereditary, discoid lupus, diagnosis,
statistics, women, symptoms, contagious, lupus nephritis

What is drug-induced lupus?

Dozens of medications have been reported to trigger SLE. However, more than 90% of cases
of "drug-induced lupus" occurs as a side effect of one of the following six drugs: hydralazine
(used for high blood pressure), quinidine and procainamide (used for abnormal heart
rhythms), phenytoin (used for epilepsy), isoniazid ([Nydrazid, Laniazid] used for
tuberculosis), and d-penicillamine (used for rheumatoid arthritis). These drugs are known to
stimulate the immune system and cause SLE. Fortunately, drug-induced SLE is infrequent
(accounting for less than 5% of all people with SLE) and usually resolves when the
medications are discontinued.
What are the symptoms and signs of lupus?
People with SLE can develop different combinations of symptoms and organ involvement.
Common complaints and symptoms include fatigue, low-grade fever, loss of appetite, muscle
aches, arthritis, ulcers of the mouth and nose, facial rash ("butterfly rash"), unusual sensitivity
to sunlight (photosensitivity), inflammation of the lining that surrounds the lungs (pleuritis)
and the heart (pericarditis), and poor circulation to the fingers and toes with cold exposure
(Raynaud's phenomenon). Complications of organ involvement can lead to further symptoms
that depend on the organ affected and severity of the disease.
Skin manifestations are frequent in lupus and can sometimes lead to scarring. In discoid
lupus, only the skin is typically involved. The skin rash in discoid lupus often is found on the
face and scalp. It usually is red and may have raised borders. Discoid lupus rashes are usually
painless and do not itch, but scarring can cause permanent hair loss (alopecia). Over time,
5%-10% of those with discoid lupus may develop SLE.
Over half of the people with SLE develop a characteristic red, flat facial rash over the bridge
of their nose. Because of its shape, it is frequently referred to as the "butterfly rash" of SLE.
The rash is painless and does not itch. The facial rash, along with inflammation in other
organs, can be precipitated or worsened by exposure to sunlight, a condition called
photosensitivity. This photosensitivity can be accompanied by worsening of inflammation
throughout the body, called a "flare" of the disease.

Typically, with treatment, this rash can heal without permanent scarring.
Most people with SLE will develop arthritis during the course of their illness. Arthritis in
SLE commonly involves swelling, pain, stiffness, and even deformity of the small joints of
the hands, wrists, and feet. Sometimes, the arthritis of SLE can mimic that of rheumatoid
arthritis (another autoimmune disease).
More serious organ involvement with inflammation occurs in the brain, liver, and kidneys.
White blood cells and blood-clotting factors also can be characteristically decreased in SLE,
known as leukopenia (leucopenia) and thrombocytopenia, respectively. Leukopenia can
increase the risk of infection and thrombocytopenia can increase the risk of bleeding.
Inflammation of muscles (myositis) can cause muscle pain and weakness. This can lead to
elevations of muscle enzyme levels in the blood.
Inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis) that supply oxygen to tissues can cause isolated
injury to a nerve, the skin, or an internal organ. The blood vessels are composed of arteries
that pass oxygen-rich blood to the tissues of the body and veins that return oxygen-depleted
blood from the tissues to the lungs. Vasculitis is characterized by inflammation with damage
to the walls of various blood vessels. The damage blocks the circulation of blood through the
vessels and can cause injury to the tissues that are supplied with oxygen by these vessels.
Inflammation of the lining of the lungs (pleuritis) and of the heart (pericarditis) can cause
sharp chest pain. The chest pain is aggravated by coughing, deep breathing, and certain
changes in body position. The heart muscle itself rarely can become inflamed (carditis). It has
also been shown that young women with SLE have a significantly increased risk of heart
attacks due to coronary artery disease.
Kidney inflammation in SLE can cause leakage of protein into the urine, fluid retention, high
blood pressure, and even kidney failure. This can lead to further fatigue and swelling of the
legs and feet. With kidney failure, machines are needed to cleanse the blood of accumulated
waste products in a process called dialysis.
Involvement of the brain can cause personality changes, thought disorders (psychosis),
seizures, and even coma. Damage to nerves can cause numbness, tingling, and weakness of
the involved body parts or extremities. Brain involvement is referred to as lupus cerebritis.
Many people with SLE experience hair loss (alopecia). Often, this occurs simultaneously
with an increase in the activity of their disease. The hair loss can be patchy or diffuse and
appear to be more like hair thinning.
Some people with SLE have Raynaud's phenomenon. In this condition, the blood supply to
the fingers and/or toes becomes compromised upon exposure to cold, causing blanching,
whitish and/or bluish discoloration, and pain and numbness in the exposed fingers and toes.

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May 14, 2008By: noniblog Category: Lupus

Dara manis bernama Ruthia Pasaribu, 21 Tahun, kini merasa plong dalam menjalani hidupnya.

Bahkan jika harus beraktifitas selama 24 jam pun ia tidak akan keberatan, karena imunitas tubuhnya sudah
kembali normal. Ia malah merasa lebih kuat dari sebelumnya.
Juli 2006 menjadi awal penderitaan Ruth, begitu ia dipanggil terhadap penyakit Lupus yang diderita. Mulanya
tubuh Ruth timbul lebam. Lama kelamaan lebam tersebut semakin banyak dan terasa sakit. Anehnya lagi, Ruth
merasa tubuhnya semakin lama semakin melemah. Padahal ia sudah memenuhi kebutuhan gizi, nutrisi dan
lainnya untuk tubuh. “Jika saya beraktifitas selama 4 jam, saya harus menggantikan energi saya dengan tidur
selama 3 hari,” cerita Ruth.
Medis mendiagnosa bahwa ini adalah gejala Lupus, penyakit yang menyerang imunitas
tubuh. Satu satunya penakluk adalah steroid. Benar saja, dalam waktu 3 minggu, steroid
mengembalikan vitalitas Ruth, sayangnya steroid berimbas pada kerapuhan pada tulang untuk
jangka lama. “Obat itu adalah mesin pembunuh jangka panjang,” katanya.
Tak ingin memperparah kondisi dengan meminum steroid, Ruth memilih berbaring di rumah.
Ia lalu mengalami depresi berat dengan kondisi tubuhnya. Derita Ruth membuat sang mama
merasa miris akan kondisinya. Sampai akhirnya doa untuk kesembuhan putrinya terkabul
dengan diperkenalkannya Ruth dengan Tahitian Noni Juice (TNJ).
Awalnya Ruth tidak mau karena harganya mahal dan ia pesimistis dengan hasilnya. Tapi
melihat kondisi mamanya yang menderita sakit ginjal dan jantung bisa sembuh, Ruth
mencoba meminumnya. Benar saja, dalam sebulan imunitas Ruth kembali seperti semula. Ia
sudah bisa kembali beraktifitas. “Tuhan mengabulkan doa saya atas kesembuhan dan
merayakan natal tahun ini bersama keluarga. Terima kasih TNJ.

Berbahayakah Penyakit Lupus ?

oleh: handoyo Pengarang : handoyo

More About : penyakit lupus

Berbahayakah Pe

Penyakit lupus belum begitu dikenal luas di masyarakat Indonesia

dan sampai saat ini belum mendapat perhatian khusus dari pemerintah
meskipun diperkirakan jumlah penderita lupus ( odapus ) terus bertambah.

Istilah lupus berasal dari serigala. Pada abad 13 dokter Rogerius menggunakan
istilah lupus untuk menggambarkan lesi di hidung dan wajah penderita yang
menyerupai gigitan serigala.
Penyebab penyakit lupus sampai sekarang belum diketahui secara pasti, diduga
berhubungan dengan genetik,virus,sinar ultraviolet dan obat-obatan tertentu.
Penyakit lupus tergolong penyakit autoimun. Artinya sistem imun membentuk
antibodi yang seharusnya bekerja memerangi infeksi yang disebut antigen
seperti bakteri,virus, jamur atau zat – zat asing yang masuk ke dalam tubuh,
malah berbalik menyerang dirinya sendiri. Sistem imun ini kehilangan
kemampuan untuk membedakan yang mana antigen asing dan mana sel atau
jaringan tubuhnya sendiri, akibatnya antibodi yang terbentuk menyerang sel
atau jaringan tubuh sendiri dan menyebabkan berbagai kelainan, tergantung
bagian tubuh yang diserang, bisa di susunan syaraf,jantung, paru –
paru,ginjal,kulit maupun sendi. Kelainan yang ditimbulkan bisa berupa
nyeri,peradangan,ataupun kerusakan jaringan.
Beberapa ciri gejala lupus antara lain rasa lemas,capek yang berlebihan,demam
berkepanjangan,ruam merah di wajah yang menyerupai gambar kupu-kupu,
ruam merah di kulit yang umumnya lebih nyata bila terpapar sinar matahari,
ruam diskoid, rambut rontok,sariawan yang berulang,nyeri pada sendi dan
bengkak pada kedua tungkai. Pemeriksaan laboratorium diperlukan untuk
mendeteksi kelainan lupus yang melibatkan sel-sel darah, serta pemeriksaan
urin untuk mendeteksi kelainan lupus yang melibatkan sel-sel darah, serta
pemeriksaan urin untuk mendeteksi adanya gangguan ginjal. Gangguan
neurologik maupun psikiatrik juga dapat terjadi pada penderita lupus. Antibodi
anti nuklear serta beberapa jenis antibodi dapat diperiksa untuk mendukung
diagnosis lupus.

Lebih lanjut tentang: Berbahayakah Penyakit Lupus ?

"Perihal Penyakit Lupus, Gejala Penyakit Lupus, Ciri Penyakit Lupus"

Obat Herbal Lupus

Penyakit Lupus adalah penyakit baru yang mematikan setara
dengan kanker. Tidak sedikit pengindap penyakit ini tidak
tertolong lagi, di dunia terdeteksi penyandang penyakit Lupus
mencapai 5 juta orang, lebih dari 100 ribu kasus baru terjadi
setiap tahunnya.

Arti kata lupus sendiri dalam bahasa Latin berarti “anjing

hutan”. Istilah ini mulai dikenal sekitar satu abad lalu.
Awalnya, penderita penyakit ini dikira mempunyai kelainan
kulit, berupa kemerahan di sekitar hidung dan pipi . Bercak-bercak merah di bagian wajah
dan lengan, panas dan rasa lelah berkepanjangan , rambutnya rontok, persendian kerap
bengkak dan timbul sariawan. Penyakit ini tidak hanya menyerang kulit, tetapi juga dapat
menyerang hampir seluruh organ yang ada di dalam tubuh.

Gejala-gejala penyakit dikenal sebagai Lupus Eritomatosus Sistemik (LES) alias Lupus.
Eritomatosus artinya kemerahan. sedangkan sistemik bermakna menyebar luas keberbagai
organ tubuh. Istilahnya disebut LES atau Lupus. Gejala-gejala yang umum dijumpai adalah:
1. Kulit yang mudah gosong akibat sinar matahari serta timbulnya gangguan
pencernaan.
2. Gejala umumnya penderita sering merasa lemah, kelelahan yang berlebihan, demam
dan pegal-pegal. Gejala ini terutama didapatkan pada masa aktif, sedangkan pada
masa remisi (nonaktif) menghilang.
3. Pada kulit, akan muncul ruam merah yang membentang di kedua pipi, mirip kupu-
kupu. Kadang disebut (butterfly rash). Namun ruam merah menyerupai cakram bisa
 muncul di kulit seluruh tubuh, menonjol dan kadang-kadang bersisik. Melihat
banyaknya gejala penyakit ini, maka wanita yang sudah terserang dua atau lebih
gejala saja, harus dicurigai mengidap Lupus.
4. Anemia yang diakibatkan oleh sel-sel darah merah yang dihancurkan oleh penyakit
LUPUS ini
5. Rambut yang sering rontok dan rasa lelah yang berlebihan
Dr. Rahmat Gunadi dari Fak. Kedokteran Unpad/RSHS menjelaskan, penyakit lupus
adalah penyakit sistem imunitas di mana jaringan dalam tubuh dianggap benda asing. Reaksi
sistem imunitas bisa mengenai berbagai sistem organ tubuh seperti jaringan kulit, otot,
tulang, ginjal, sistem saraf, sistem kardiovaskuler, paru-paru, lapisan pada paru-paru, hati,
sistem pencernaan, mata, otak, maupun pembuluh darah dan sel-sel darah.
“Penyakit ini dapat mengenai semua lapisan masyarakat, 1-5 orang di antara 100.000
penduduk, bersifat genetik, dapat diturunkan. Wanita lebih sering 6-10 kali daripada pria,
terutama pada usia 15-40 tahun. Bangsa Afrika dan Asia lebih rentan dibandingkan kulit
putih. Dan tentu saja, keluarga Odapus. Timbulnya penyakit ini karena adanya faktor
kepekaan dan faktor pencetus yaitu adanya infeksi, pemakaian obat-obatan, terkena paparan
sinar matahari, pemakaian pil KB, dan stres,” ujarnya.
Penyakit ini justru kebanyakaan diderita wanita usia produktif sampai usia 50 tahun sekalipun
ada juga pria yang mengalaminya. Oleh karena itu dianggap diduga penyakit ini berhubungan
dengan hormon estrogen.

Pada kehamilan dari perempuan yang menderita lupus, sering diduga berkaitan dengan
kehamilan yang menyebabkan abortus, gangguan perkembangan janin atau pun bayi
meninggal saat lahir. Tetapi hal yang berkebalikan juga mungkin atau bahkan memperburuk
geja LUPUS. Sering dijumpai gejala Lupus muncul sewaktu hamil atau setelah melahirkan.

Tubuh memiliki kekebalan untuk menyerang penyakit dan menjaga tetap sehat. Namun,
dalam penyakit ini kekebalan tubuh justru menyerang organ tubuh yang sehat. Penyakit
Lupus diduga berkaitan dengan sistem imunologi yang berlebih. Dalam tubuh seseorang
terdapat antibodi yang berfungsi menyerang sumber penyakit yang akan masuk dalam tubuh.
Uniknya, penyakit Lupus ini antibodi yang terbentuk dalam tubuh muncul berlebihan.
Hasilnya, antibodi justru menyerang sel-sel jaringan organ tubuh yang sehat. Kelainan ini
disebut autoimunitas . Antibodi yang berlebihan ini, bisa masuk ke seluruh jaringan dengan
dua cara yaitu :
• Pertama, antibodi aneh ini bisa langsung menyerang jaringan sel tubuh, seperti pada
sel-sel darah merah yang menyebabkan selnya akan hancur. Inilah yang
mengakibatkan penderitanya kekurangan sel darah merah atau anemia.
• Kedua, antibodi bisa bergabung dengan antigen (zat perangsang pembentukan
antibodi), membentuk ikatan yang disebut kompleks imun.Gabungan antibodi dan
antigen mengalir bersama darah, sampai tersangkut di pembuluh darah kapiler akan
menimbulkan peradangan. Dalam keadaan normal, kompleks ini akan dibatasi oleh
sel-sel radang (fagosit) Tetapi, dalam keadaan abnormal, kompleks ini tidak dapat
dibatasi dengan baik. Malah sel-sel radang tadi bertambah banyak sambil
mengeluarkan enzim, yang menimbulkan peradangan di sekitar kompleks. Hasilnya,
proses peradangan akan berkepanjangan dan akan merusak organ tubuh dan
mengganggu fungsinya. Selanjutnya, hal ini akan terlihat sebagai gejala penyakit.
Kalau hal ini terjadi, maka dalam jangka panjang fungsi organ tubuh akan terganggu.
Kesembuhan total dari penyakit ini, tampaknya sulit. Dokter lebih berfokus pada pengobatan
yang sifatnya sementara.Lebih difokuskan untuk mencegah meluasnya penyakit dan tidak
menyerang organ vital tubuh.

Source : http://doktersehat.com/2007/09/24/lupus-apa-itu-penyakit-lupus/