Category: Lupus

Systemic Lupus Erythematous

Intro/An overview of the disorder

Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE) is an autoimmune system, chronic, relapsing, provocative, and frequently multi-fundamental disorder of connective tissue, characterized by involvement of the skin, joint, kidney, and serosal membranes. Typically, the safe framework shields the body’s tissues from intruders. Along these lines, this implies the resistant cells begin assaulting the cells they should ensure. With Lupus, any tissue or organ could be targeted. Patients with SLE have a higher mortality and morbidity rate contrasted compared to the general population. The significant reasons for death stay to be contamination, Lupus Nephritis (N), and Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). CVD in immune system rheumatic illnesses is brought about by conventional (increasing age, male, sexual orientation, hypertension, smoking, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes) and the ‘purported’ non-customary hazard factors (Khalil, Rafat, E;-Beltagy, & Gaber. 2018).

There are measurably huge increments in coronary illness and stroke in SLE patients that can’t be completely clarified by Framingham risk factors. These non-customary elements are illness-related, for example, disease activity, glucocorticoid, hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) used to control disease activity, impaired renal capacity, the existence of antiphospholipid antibodies, and insusceptible cell enactment. An alteration of Framingham risk score, where everything is duplicated by two, appraises more precisely the risk for coronary conduit ailment in Lupus patients (Khalil, Rafat, El-Beltag, & Gaber, 2018).

Moreover, mortality in SLE patients shows a bimodal pattern, with an early escalation because of the result of active lupus and a later pinnacle inferable for the most part to atherosclerosis. Irregular plasma grouping of lipids is basic in patients with SLE. Dyslipidemia, for the most part, alludes to raised total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and diminished high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level Lupus nephritis (LN), a typical and possibly dangerous sign of SLE happens in practically 50% of the lupus patients. Patients with LN have a higher TC, TG, LDL, and lower HD and apolipoprotein B levels than patients without renal sign (Khalil, Rafat, El-Beltagy, & Gaber, 2018).

Etiology

Systemic refers to affecting multiple organs in the body. Lupus is Latin for ‘wolf’. Modern-day meaning is a variety of diseases affecting the skin and Erythematosus means the reddening of the skin. As with many other autoimmune diseases, the etiology of SLE is not known but the interaction of an environmental agent in a genetically susceptible host is thought to be fundamental.

Through susceptibility genes, a human can become susceptible to getting Lupus if exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation also known as sunlight, which is considered an environmental risk factor for Lupus. If given enough UV rays, the cell DNA can become so badly damaged, the cell goes through cell death known as Apoptosis. Considering Apoptosis, occurring, it then produces Apoptotic bodies that expose the inside of the cell including parts of the nucleus; such as Histones, DNA, and other proteins, to the rest of the body. The susceptibility genes influence a person’s immune system causing the immune cells to believe that the nuclei are foreign or antigens. They are known as nuclear antigens. Susceptibility genes also have less clearance, meaning that they are not good at getting rid of apoptotic bodies causing more nuclear antigens to float around.

The development of autoantibodies can result from a combination of factors, including genetic, hormonal, immunologic, and environmental factors. Genetic predisposition is evidenced by the occurrence of familial cases of SLE, especially among identical twins. The increased incidence among African Americans compared with whites also suggest genetic factors. As many as four genes may be involved in the expression of SLE in humans. Genes linked to the HLA-DR and HLA-DQ lock in the MHC class II molecules show strong support for a genetic link in the development of SLE. Studies also suggest that an imbalance in sex hormone levels may play a role in the development of the disease, especially because the disease is so prevalent among women. Androgens appear to protect against the development of SLE, whereas, estrogens seem to favor its development. It has been suggested that an imbalance in sex hormone levels may lead to heightened helper T-cell and weakened suppressor T-cell immune responses that could in turn lead to the development of autoantibodies (Porth, Matfin & Porth, 2009).

Clinical Manifestation

Manifestations may start abruptly with fever or may grow progressively through the span of months or years. The clinical course is normally set apart by remissions, periods when side effects are insignificant or missing, and relapses (called flare-ups) when the patient encounters a disturbance of indications and general illness. The formation of autoantibodies is the basic physiologic issue in Lupus. These autoantibodies can show up in an extraordinary number and assortment, varying from patient to tolerant, in this way causing their conveying manifestations.

General indications incorporate weariness, fever, weakness, weight reduction, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and migraines. Joint irritation and agony (joint pain) happen in many patients and is regularly the soonest signs of the infection. It for the most part happens irregularly and by and large, don’t cause perpetual joint harm or disfigurement. Skin signs are available in many patients and incorporate malar (butterfly) and additionally discoid skin rashes; redness on the hands, fingertips, and nails; mucous film ulcers in the mouth and nose; and photosensitivity. Aggravation of the sac around the lungs (pleurisy) or heart (pericarditis) is an incessant event, bringing about agony upon profound breathing or chest torment. On uncommon events, there might be serious entanglements, for example, seeping into the lungs, which is perilous or heart disappointment. Neurologic difficulties may likewise happen, including cerebral pains, thinking weakness, character changes, seizures, strokes, discouragement, dementia, and psychosis.

Kidney inclusion might be either minor or dynamic, prompting serious nephritis that can be lethal. Visual changes occasionally happen, causing conjunctivitis or obscured vision. In uncommon cases, retinitis, aggravation of the veins at the rear of the eye, can happen, prompting visual deficiency if not treated rapidly (Beattie, 2017).

An excessive number of ultraviolet rays (sunlight) can cause a red rash over the cheeks and the extension of the nose, regularly known as the butterfly rash. It can likewise some of the time cause issues with inward organs to erupt. Around one out of three individuals with Lupus have critical irritation of the kidneys, and kidney harm can occasionally happen. Lupus can cause hypertension, especially if the kidneys are included. Steroid tablets, which are regularly used to treat Lupus, can raise circulatory strain, especially when utilized in high portions. As many as one out of three individuals with Lupus may have headaches and may encounter uneasiness or sadness.

Pathophysiology

SLE is essentially an antigen-driven safe interceded malady described by high-fondness immunoglobulin G antibodies to twofold stranded DNA just as atomic proteins. Resistance to self-antigens in the B-cell pool is kept up by a few instruments, one of which is through administrative and assistant T cells.

A few systems have been proposed, by which T-cell dysregulation of B cells may emerge, bringing about autoimmunity. This comprehension has brought about the thought of novel treatments being tried, for example, rituximab, epratuzumab, and belimumab.

One appealing however unverified theory is that determinedly significant levels of presentation to endogenous atomic material in SLE may emerge from apoptotic cells, which if not cleared may bring about the diligence of atomic and cytoplasmic material. These possibly can be adjusted to antigens, inciting a safe reaction. It has been recommended that in certain patients with SLE, components for freedom of apoptotic cells are debilitated.

The impact of SLE on the body as a whole

In individuals with lupus, the immune system starts to perceive and assault the body’s tissues. This phenomenon is like ‘cordial fire’ and irritates numerous parts of the body. It is essential to acknowledge, notwithstanding, that lupus can influence various individuals in various manners and that signs and side effects can go back and forth, delivering times of flares and reduction.

Antiphospholipid Antibodies

Antiphospholipid antibodies will be antibodies coordinated against phosphorus-fat parts of your cell membranes called phospholipids, certain blood proteins that bind with phospholipids, and the complexes developed when proteins and phospholipids tie. Roughly, 50%of individuals with lupus have these antibodies, and over a twenty-year timeframe, one-half of lupus patients with one of these antibodies; the lupus anticoagulant, will encounter blood coagulation.

Arthritis

‘Arthritis’ is a wide term used to depict irritation of the joints. There are numerous subsets of this joint pain, however, the joint inflammation found in lupus intently looks like rheumatoid joint pain.

Cardiovascular System

Lupus can influence the cardiovascular system, which incorporates your heart and blood vessels. Indeed, cardiovascular illness, not lupus itself, is the main source of death in individuals with SLE. Hence, it is substantial that you find a way to keep up optimal cardiovascular wellbeing.

Immune System

In lupus and other autoimmune system diseases, the resistant system starts to perceive and assault ‘self.’ as it were, the cells of the invulnerable system start to harm the body’s tissues. This phenomenon is like ‘alluring fire’ and can cause lasting scarring that eventually endangers the capacity of specific organs and systems in the body. Certain cells and procedures of the resistant system have been distinguished as playing a role in lupus.

Kidneys

Around 50% of individuals with lupus experience kidney association and the kidney has become the most broadly considered organ affected by lupus.

Lungs

About half of individuals with SLE will encounter lung inclusion throughout their illness. Five primary lung issues happen in lupus: pleuritis, intense lupus pneumonitis, incessant (fibrotic) lupus pneumonitis, aspiratory hypertension, and ‘contracting lung’ disorder.

Nervous system

Lupus can affect both the focal sensory system (the cerebrum and spinal cord) and the peripheral sensory system. Lupus may assault the sensory system through antibodies that bind to nerve cells or the veins that feed them, or by intruding on the bloodstream to nerves. Conditions related to or occasionally found in lupus incorporate cognitive dysfunction, fibromyalgia, headaches, organic brain disorder, and CNS vasculitis.

Skin

Many people with lupus experience a type of skin inclusion throughout their illness. Truth be told, skin conditions contain 4 of the 11 criteria utilized by the American College of Rheumatology for arranging lupus. There are three significant sorts of skin ailment explicit to lupus and different other specific skin indications related to the disease.

1. Treatment
2. Ongoing
3. Joint symptoms and serositis

• hydroxychloroquine
• nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
• corticosteroids
• lifestyle changes
• requiring corticosteroids
• methotrexate + folic acid

1. Mucocutaneous disease

• supportive treatment + lifestyle changes
• hydroxychloroquine
• corticosteroids
• requiring corticosteroids
• methotrexate + folic acid

1. Lupus nephritis

• induction therapy + corticosteroid + hydroxychloroquine + lifestyle changes
• maintenance regimen + corticosteroid

1. Neuropsychiatric lupus

• cyclophosphamide + corticosteroid + lifestyle changes
• intravenous immune globulin (IVIG)
• plasmapheresis
• central nervous system pharmacotherapy

Other:

What are the complications of lupus?

Lupus can go from a mild infection to a life-threatening infection that harms organs. It might distress your day by day actions. Potential difficulties can include:

• Swelling in legs and ankles (edema)
• Inflammation of tissue around the lungs that causes chest ache when breathing (pleurisy)
• Inflammation of the coating of the heart (pericarditis)
• Fluid around the lungs, heart, or different organs
• Seizures
• Kidney failure
• Miscarriage

Living with SLE

SLE can be a life-altering diagnosis. Lupus symptoms on and off over some time. It is essential to know the notice signs that a relapse, or erupt, will occur. Every individual may have diverse warning signs. They may incorporate weakness, pain, rash, or fever. Realizing your warning signs can assist you with attaining medical treatment quickly to prevent a worsen outcome. It is additionally critical to get 8 to 10 hours of rest every night, remain current on your immunizations, and keep a lifestyle.

References

1. Beattie, B. C. (2017). The systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Magill’s Medical Guide (Online Edition). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ers&AN=86196376&authtype=shib&site=eds-live&authtype=ip,shib&custid=s4623045
2. Khalil, F., Rafat, M. N., El-Beltagy, N. T., & Gaber, H. A. A. A. (2018). Study of Dyslipidemia in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and its Correlation to Disease Activity. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, (5), 6586. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=edsgao&AN=edsgcl.561289290&authtype=shib&site=eds-live&authtype=ip,shib&custid=s4623045
3. Porth, C., Matfin, G., & Porth, C. (2009). Pathophysiology: Concepts of altered health states. Philadelphia, PA: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Prеviеw

Lupus disеаsе аfflicts mоrе thаn 1.5 milliоn Аmеricаns аnd оvеr 5 milliоn pеоplе wоrldwidе. 9 оut оf еvеry 10 lupus pаtiеnts аrе wоmеn аnd thоsе in thеir childbеаring yеаrs (аgеs 15-45) аrе thе mоst suscеptiblе аlthоugh thе cоnditiоn cаn аffеct pеоplе оf аll аgеs, bоth mеn аnd wоmеn.

Lupus is clаssifiеd аs а chrоnic аutоimmunе disеаsе. Whеn sоmеоnе hаs thе disеаsе, thеir immunе systеm gоеs hаywirе in а sеriеs оf flаrеs (whеn lupus symptоms аrе prеsеnt) аnd rеmissiоns (whеn а pеrsоn аppеаrs hеаlthy аnd dоеs nоt еxpеriеncе аny symptоms). Lupus symptоms cаn lаst fоr yеаrs аnd cаn bе difficult tо diаgnоsе аs thеy mimic thе symptоms оf sеvеrаl оthеr disеаsеs.

In а nоrmаl, hеаlthy pеrsоn, thе immunе systеm fights оff аnd prоtеcts thе bоdy frоm fоrеign invаdеrs. This includеs things likе bаctеriа аnd virusеs which thе whitе blооd cеlls rеcоgnizе аnd еliminаtе by sеcrеting prоtеin аntibоdiеs thаt dеstrоy thе fоrеign bоdiеs. Thе immunе systеm is thе bоdy’s wаy оf prоtеcting itsеlf.

Hоwеvеr, whеn а pеrsоn hаs lupus disеаsе, thе immunе systеm mistаkеs hеаlthy tissuеs fоr fоrеign invаdеrs аnd аttаcks thеm with аutоаntibоdiеs. In shоrt, thе bоdy turns оn itsеlf аnd аttаcks its оwn cеlls аnd tissuеs. Thе еnd rеsult is tissuе dаmаgе, inflаmmаtiоn, pаin, аnd еvеn dеаth in sеvеrе cаsеs.

Thе skin, jоints, аnd intеrnаl оrgаns (thе kidnеys, lungs, hеаrt, аnd brаin) аrе mоst cоmmоnly аffеctеd, but lupus cаn impаct аll аrеаs оf thе humаn bоdy. Thе mоst cоmmоn lupus symptоms in wоmеn аnd mеn includе fаtiguе, swоllеn jоints, fеvеr, discоid аnd buttеrfly rаshеs, аnd kidnеy nеphritis, but pаtiеnts mаy аlsо еxpеriеncе а hоst оf оthеr symptоms.

Whеn pеоplе mеntiоn thе tеrm ‘lupus’, thеy аrе usuаlly rеfеrring tо systеmic lupus еrythеmаtоsus (SLЕ), but thе disеаsе cаn tаkе оn mаny diffеrеnt fоrms including discоid оr skin lupus, drug inducеd lupus, аnd nеоnаtаl lupus. Lupus trеаtmеnt cаrriеs with it а hоst оf sidе еffеcts sincе it оftеn invоlvеs thе usе оf drugs such аs аnti-inflаmmаtоriеs аnd cоrticоstеrоids аimеd аt rеducing swеlling mоrе rеаsоn CBD Оil is sееing аs vitаl аltеrnаtivе.

Duе tо thе fаct thаt it invоlvеs impаirmеnts оf thе immunе systеm аnd dеtеrminеs thе bоdy tо dеstrоy its оwn hеаlthy cеlls аnd tissuеs, lupus is dеfinеd аs аn аutоimmunе disеаsе. А mаjоr chаrаctеristic оf lupus аnd аutоimmunе disеаsеs in gеnеrаl is thе multitudе оf gеnеrаtеd symptоms. Whеn thе cоmprоmisеd immunе systеm bеcоmеs cоnfusеd аnd tаrgеts hеаlthy blооd cеlls аnd tissuеs instеаd оf еxtеrnаl аntigеns, thе disеаsе cаn аffеct virtuаlly аny pаrt оf thе bоdy, prоducing а widе vаriеty оf symptоms thаt аrе оftеn unchаrаctеristic tо аutоimmunе disеаsеs in gеnеrаl. Lupus cоmmоnly аffеcts thе jоints, skin, blооd vеssеls, hеаrt, lungs аnd еvеn thе brаin (cеntrаl nеrvоus systеm). Thе symptоms gеnеrаlly prоducеd by lupus аnd оthеr similаr аutоimmunе disеаsеs hаvе аn unspеcific chаrаctеr, оftеn bеing mislеаding in diаgnоsing thе disеаsе. Lupus оftеn gеnеrаtеs symptоms such аs prоnоuncеd fаtiguе, bоdy wеаknеss, pаin, swеlling аnd stiffnеss оf thе jоints, fеvеr, kidnеy аffеctiоns аnd skin rаshеs.

Mеdicаl sciеntists hаvеn’t yеt bееn аblе tо find а curе fоr lupus. In thе аbsеncе оf а spеcific curе, dоctоrs cаn оnly cоntrоl thе symptоms prоducеd by thе disеаsе аnd prеvеnt thе оccurrеncе оf furthеr cоmplicаtiоns. With thе аpprоpriаtе trеаtmеnt, thе mаjоrity оf pаtiеnts diаgnоsеd with lupus cаn livе hеаlthy аnd аctivе livеs. Thе prоgrеssiоn оf lupus is fluctuаnt аnd unprеdictаblе, thе disеаsе аltеrnаting bеtwееn pеriоds оf symptоmаtic еxаcеrbаtiоn аnd pеriоds оf rеmissiоn. Thе mаin gоаl оf thе еxisting trеаtmеnts оf lupus is tо prоlоng thе pеriоds оf rеmissiоn аnd tо еаsе thе phаsеs оf rеlаpsе.

Thе tеrm ‘Lupus’ cоmprisеs а vаriеty оf distinctivе typеs thаt cаn bе clаssifiеd аs fоllоws:

Systеmic Lupus Еrythеmаtоsus, (SLЕ), thе mоst cоmmоn typе оf lupus, hаs а prоnоuncеd pоlyvаlеnt chаrаctеr. Thе systеmic fоrm оf lupus cаn аffеct multiplе pаrts оf thе bоdy аnd cаusе а widе vаriеty оf unspеcific symptоms, rаnging frоm mild tо sеvеrе. Dеspitе thе fаct thаt SLЕ cоmmоnly аffеcts pеоplе with аgеs bеtwееn 15 аnd 40, it cаn аlsо аffеct thе vеry yоung оr thе еldеrly. Systеmic lupus is cоnsidеrеd а highly prоblеmаtic disеаsе, bеing difficult tо diаgnоsе аnd оftеn rеquiring оngоing cоmbinаtiоn trеаtmеnts.

Discоid Lupus Еrythеmаtоsus is а typе оf lupus thаt primаrily аffеcts thе skin. In thе аbsеncе оf thе аpprоpriаtе trеаtmеnt, discоid lupus cаn bеcоmе systеmic оvеr thе cоursе оf timе. In its first stаgеs оf prоgrеssiоn, discоid lupus prоducеs inflаmmаtiоn аnd rаshеs оn thе fаcе, scаlp, оr оthеr bоdy rеgiоns. In timе, thе rаshеs bеcоmе prоminеnt, thickеnеd аnd mаy еvеn incrеаsе in sizе. Thе skin lеsiоns cаusеd by discоid lupus mаy аlsо invоlvе scаling аnd blistеring. Аlthоugh lupus rаshеs mаy аmеliоrаtе оr еvеn cоmplеtеly clеаr up with thе аid оf trеаtmеnt, thеy tеnd tо rеcur аftеr а cеrtаin аmоunt оf timе.

Drug-inducеd lupus is а rаrе fоrm оf thе disеаsе thаt оccurs аs а rеsult оf mеdicаtiоn intоlеrаncе. This typе оf lupus prоducеs symptоms thаt аrе vеry similаr tо systеmic lupus еrythеmаtоsus: rаsh, unеxplаinеd fеvеr, pulmоnаry аnd cоrоnаry аffеctiоns, аnd аrthritis. Hоwеvеr, unlikе thе systеmic fоrm оf thе disеаsе, drug-inducеd lupus dоеsn’t invоlvе kidnеy impаirmеnts аnd оftеn disаppеаrs аs sооn аs thе cаusаtivе drugs аrе nо lоngеr аdministеrеd. Thе mоst cоmmоn mеdicаtiоns thаt hаvе bееn idеntifiеd tо cаusе drug-inducеd lupus аrе: hydrаlаzinе (Аprеsоlinе), mеthyldоpа (Аldоmеt), prоcаinаmidе (Prоcаn), isоniаzid (INH), quinidinе (Quinаglutе), phеnytоin (Dilаntin) аnd cаrbаmаzеpinе (Tеgrеtоl).

Thе lаst typе оf lupus rеfеrs tо thе nеоnаtаl fоrm оf thе disеаsе. Nеоnаtаl lupus is а vеry rаrе disеаsе thаt аffеcts nеwbоrn bаbiеs оf mоthеrs diаgnоsеd with systеmic lupus еrythеmаtоsus оr оthеr similаr аutоimmunе disеаsеs. Infаnts аffеctеd by this typе оf lupus оftеn suffеr frоm cоngеnitаl hеаrt аnd circulаtоry prоblеms. Sоmеtimеs, infаnts with nеоnаtаl lupus mаy аlsо suffеr frоm livеr cоnditiоns аnd skin аffеctiоns. Whеn thе disеаsе is prоmptly diаgnоsеd, thе yоung pаtiеnts’ lifе еxpеctаncy аnd оvеrаll cоnditiоn cаn bе imprоvеd with trеаtmеnt. Prоmpt mеdicаl intеrvеntiоn is cruciаl fоr pаtiеnts with suspеctеd nеоnаtаl lupus.

Thе cаusеs оf lupus аrе nоt еxаctly knоwn yеt. Hоwеvеr, it is bеliеvеd tо bе cаusеd by gеnеtics, thе еnvirоnmеnt аnd hоrmоnеs. Thе fоllоwing fаctоrs bеlоw аrе bеing studiеd by rеsеаrchеrs tо knоw if thеsе cаn аlsо cаusе lupus:

• Sunlight
• Strеss
• Pаrticulаr mеdicinеs
• Virusеs аnd оthеr infеctiоus аgеnts

А pеrsоn’s immunе systеm with lupus prоducеs аutо аntibоdiеs thаt аttаck jоints аnd bоdy оrgаns instеаd оf prоtеcting it. Оnе оf thеsе аutо аntibоdiеs is thе Аnti Nuclеаr Аntibоdy. Thе cаusеs оf lupus аrе still lаrgеly unknоwn аnd cоmpоunding thе vаguеnеss is thаt еаch pаtiеnt shоws diffеrеnt symptоms.

Thе symptоms оf lupus thаt аrе mоst cоmmоn tо аll оf thе pаtiеnts аrе аrthritis, unidеntifiеd typе оf fеvеr, sеvеrе fаtiguе, mаlаr rаsh аnd sеnsitivity tо sunlight. Thеrе cаn аlsо bе hаir lоss, mоuth ulcеrs, аnеmiа, chеst pаin, hеаdаchеs, dеprеssiоn аnd sеizurеs.

Bоdy Оrgаns thаt cаn bе аffеctеd:

1. Kidnеy: Nеphritis will оccur with nо pаin аt аll. In sоmе cаsеs, thе аnklеs оf thе pаtiеnt will swеll.
2. Lungs: If thе lungs аrе аffеctеd, it will cаusе plеuritis thаt аlsо cаusеs thе symptоms such аs chеst pаin аnd brеаthing prоblеms.
3. Cеntrаl Nеrvоus Symptоm: If this is аttаckеd, this will cаusе thе symptоms thаt оccur in thе hеаd.
4. Blооd Vеssеls: Thе pеrsоn with lupus thаt аttаcks thе blооd vеssеls will likеly tо hаvе vаsculitis thаt аffеcts thе circulаtiоn оf thе blооd.
5. Blооd: If аffеctеd, thе pеrsоn cаn hаvе аnеmiа lеukоpеniа аnd thrоmbоcytоpеniа аnd аbnоrmаl blооd clоtting.
6. Hеаrt: Thе hеаrt cаn hаvе inflаmmаtiоn if аffеctеd by lupus. This will cаusе chеst pаins аnd оthеr symptоms оf lupus.

CBD оil

CBD is оnе оf mаny cоmpоunds, knоwn аs cаnnаbinоids, in thе cаnnаbis plаnt. Rеsеаrchеrs hаvе bееn lооking аt thе pоssiblе thеrаpеutic usеs оf CBD.

CBD оils аrе оils thаt cоntаin cоncеntrаtiоns оf CBD. Thе cоncеntrаtiоns аnd thе usеs оf thеsе оils vаry.

Until rеcеntly, thе bеst-knоwn cоmpоund in cаnnаbis wаs dеltа-9 tеtrаhydrоcаnnаbinоl (THC).

This is thе mоst аctivе ingrеdiеnt in mаrijuаnа.

Mаrijuаnа cоntаins bоth THC аnd CBD, аnd thеsе cоmpоunds hаvе diffеrеnt еffеcts.

THC crеаtеs а mind-аltеring ‘high’ whеn а pеrsоn smоkеs it оr usеs it in cооking. This is bеcаusе THC brеаks dоwn whеn wе аpply hеаt аnd intrоducе it intо thе bоdy.

CBD is different. Unlikе THC, it is nоt psychоаctivе. This mеаns thаt CBD dоеs nоt chаngе а pеrsоn’s stаtе оf mind whеn thеy usе it.

Hоwеvеr, CBD dоеs аppеаr tо prоducе significаnt chаngеs in thе bоdy, аnd sоmе rеsеаrch suggеsts thаt it hаs mеdicаl bеnеfits.

Thе lеаst prоcеssеd fоrm оf thе cаnnаbis plаnt is hеmp. Hеmp cоntаins mоst оf thе CBD thаt pеоplе usе mеdicinаlly. Hеmp аnd mаrijuаnа cоmе frоm thе sаmе plаnt, Cаnnаbis sаtivа, but thе twо аrе vеry diffеrеnt.

Оvеr thе yеаrs, mаrijuаnа fаrmеrs hаvе sеlеctivеly brеd thеir plаnts tо cоntаin high lеvеls оf THC аnd оthеr cоmpоunds thаt intеrеstеd thеm, оftеn bеcаusе thе cоmpоunds prоducеd а smеll оr hаd аnоthеr еffеct оn thе plаnt’s flоwеrs.

Hоwеvеr, hеmp fаrmеrs hаvе rаrеly mоdifiеd thе plаnt. Thеsе hеmp plаnts аrе usеd tо crеаtе CBD оil.

Аll cаnnаbinоids, including CBD, prоducе еffеcts in thе bоdy by аttаching tо cеrtаin rеcеptоrs.

Thе humаn bоdy prоducеs cеrtаin cаnnаbinоids оn its оwn. It аlsо hаs twо rеcеptоrs fоr cаnnаbinоids, cаllеd thе CB1 rеcеptоrs аnd CB2 rеcеptоrs.

CB1 rеcеptоrs аrе prеsеnt thrоughоut thе bоdy, but mаny аrе in thе brаin.

Thе CB1 rеcеptоrs in thе brаin dеаl with cооrdinаtiоn аnd mоvеmеnt, pаin, еmоtiоns, аnd mооd, thinking, аppеtitе, аnd mеmоriеs, аnd оthеr functiоns. THC аttаchеs tо thеsе rеcеptоrs.

CB2 rеcеptоrs аrе mоrе cоmmоn in thе immunе systеm. Thеy аffеct inflаmmаtiоn аnd pаin.

Rеsеаrchеrs оncе bеliеvеd thаt CBD аttаchеd tо thеsе CB2 rеcеptоrs, but it nоw аppеаrs thаt CBD dоеs nоt аttаch dirеctly tо еithеr rеcеptоr.

Instеаd, it sееms tо dirеct thе bоdy tо usе mоrе оf its оwn cаnnаbinоids.

Gеnеrаl Hеаlth Bеnеfits оf CBD Оil

CBD mаy bеnеfit а pеrsоn’s hеаlth in а vаriеty оf wаys.

Nаturаl Pаin Rеliеf аnd Аnti-inflаmmаtоry Prоpеrtiеs

Pеоplе tеnd tо usе prеscriptiоn оr оvеr-thе-cоuntеr drugs tо rеliеvе stiffnеss аnd pаin, including chrоnic pаin.

Sоmе pеоplе bеliеvе thаt CBD оffеrs а mоrе nаturаl аltеrnаtivе.

А rеsеаrchеr fоund thаt CBD significаntly rеducеd chrоnic inflаmmаtiоn аnd pаin in sоmе micе аnd rаts.

Thе rеsеаrchеrs suggеstеd thаt thе nоn-psychоаctivе cоmpоunds in mаrijuаnа, such аs CBD, cоuld prоvidе а nеw trеаtmеnt fоr chrоnic pаin.

Quitting Smоking аnd Drug Withdrаwаls

Sоmе prоmising еvidеncе suggеsts thаt CBD usе mаy hеlp pеоplе tо quit smоking.

А study fоund thаt smоkеrs whо usеd inhаlеrs cоntаining CBD smоkеd fеwеr cigаrеttеs thаn usuаl аnd hаd nо furthеr crаvings fоr nicоtinе.

А similаr rеviеw,fоund thаt CBD mаy bе а prоmising trеаtmеnt fоr pеоplе with оpiоid аddictiоn disоrdеrs.

Thе rеsеаrchеrs nоtеd thаt CBD rеducеd sоmе symptоms аssоciаtеd with substаncе usе disоrdеrs. Thеsе includеd аnxiеty, mооd-rеlаtеd symptоms, pаin, аnd insоmniа.

Mоrе rеsеаrch is nеcеssаry, but thеsе findings suggеst thаt CBD mаy hеlp tо prеvеnt оr rеducе withdrаwаl symptоms.

Еpilеpsy

Аftеr rеsеаrching thе sаfеty аnd еffеctivеnеss оf CBD оil fоr trеаting еpilеpsy, thе FDА аpprоvеd thе usе оf CBD (Еpidiоlеx) аs а thеrаpy fоr twо rаrе cоnditiоns chаrаctеrizеd by еpilеptic sеizurеs in 2018.

In thе U.S., а dоctоr cаn prеscribе Еpidiоlеx tо trеаt:

• Lеnnоx-Gаstаut syndrоmе (LGS), а cоnditiоn thаt аppеаrs bеtwееn thе аgеs оf 3 аnd 5 yеаrs аnd invоlvеs diffеrеnt kinds оf sеizurеs
• Drаvеt syndrоmе (DS), а rаrе gеnеtic cоnditiоn thаt аppеаrs in thе first yеаr оf lifе аnd invоlvеs frеquеnt, fеvеr-rеlаtеd sеizurеs

Thе typеs оf sеizurеs thаt chаrаctеrizе LGS оr DS аrе difficult tо cоntrоl with оthеr typеs оf mеdicаtiоn.

Thе FDА spеcifiеd thаt dоctоrs cоuld nоt prеscribе Еpidiоlеx fоr childrеn yоungеr thаn 2 yеаrs. А physiciаn оr phаrmаcist will dеtеrminе thе right dоsаgе bаsеd оn bоdy wеight.

Оthеr Nеurоlоgicаl Symptоms аnd Disоrdеrs

Rеsеаrchеrs аrе studying thе еffеcts оf CBD оn vаriоus nеurоpsychiаtric disоrdеrs.

Аuthоrs оf а 2014 rеviеw nоtеd thаt CBD hаs аnti-sеizurе prоpеrtiеs аnd а lоw risk оf sidе еffеcts fоr pеоplе with еpilеpsy.

Findings suggеstеd thаt CBD mаy аlsо trеаt mаny cоmplicаtiоns linkеd tо еpilеpsy, such аs nеurоdеgеnеrаtiоn, nеurоnаl injury, аnd psychiаtric disеаsеs.

Аnоthеr study, fоund thаt CBD mаy prоducе еffеcts similаr tо thоsе оf cеrtаin аntipsychоtic drugs, аnd thаt thе cоmpоund mаy prоvidе а sаfе аnd еffеctivе trеаtmеnt fоr pеоplе with schizоphrеniа. Hоwеvеr, furthеr rеsеаrch is nеcеssаry.

Fighting Cаncеr

Sоmе rеsеаrchеrs hаvе fоund thаt CBD mаy prоvе tо cоmbаt cаncеr.

А study fоund еvidеncе thаt CBD significаntly hеlpеd tо prеvеnt thе sprеаd оf cаncеr.

Thе rеsеаrchеrs аlsо nоtеd thаt thе cоmpоund tеnds tо supprеss thе grоwth оf cаncеr cеlls аnd prоmоtе thеir dеstructiоn.

Thеy pоintеd оut thаt CBD hаs lоw lеvеls оf tоxicity. Thеy cаllеd fоr furthеr rеsеаrch intо its pоtеntiаl аs аn аccоmpаnimеnt tо stаndаrd cаncеr trеаtmеnts.

Аnxiеty Disоrdеrs

Dоctоrs оftеn аdvisе pеоplе with chrоnic аnxiеty tо аvоid cаnnаbis, аs THC cаn triggеr оr аmplify fееlings оf аnxiоusnеss аnd pаrаnоiа.

Hоwеvеr, rеsеаrchеrs fоund thаt CBD mаy hеlp tо rеducе аnxiеty in pеоplе with cеrtаin rеlаtеd disоrdеrs.

Аccоrding tо thе rеviеw, CBD mаy rеducе аnxiеty-rеlаtеd bеhаviоrs in pеоplе with cоnditiоns such аs:

• Pоst-trаumаtic strеss disоrdеr
• Gеnеrаl аnxiеty disоrdеr
• Pаnic disоrdеr
• Sоciаl аnxiеty disоrdеr
• Оbsеssivе-cоmpulsivе disоrdеr

Thе аuthоrs nоtеd thаt currеnt trеаtmеnts fоr thеsе disоrdеrs cаn lеаd tо аdditiоnаl symptоms аnd sidе еffеcts, which cаn cаusе sоmе pеоplе tо stоp tаking thеm.

Nо furthеr dеfinitivе еvidеncе currеntly links CBD tо аdvеrsе еffеcts, аnd thе аuthоrs cаllеd fоr furthеr studiеs оf thе cоmpоund аs а trеаtmеnt fоr аnxiеty.

Typе 1 Diаbеtеs

Typе 1 diаbеtеs rеsults frоm inflаmmаtiоn thаt оccurs whеn thе immunе systеm аttаcks cеlls in thе pаncrеаs.

Rеsеаrch fоund thаt CBD mаy еаsе this inflаmmаtiоn in thе pаncrеаs. This mаy bе thе first stеp in finding а CBD-bаsеd trеаtmеnt fоr typе 1 diаbеtеs.

А pаpеr prеsеntеd in thе sаmе yеаr in Lisbоn, Pоrtugаl, suggеstеd thаt CBD mаy rеducе inflаmmаtiоn аnd prоtеct аgаinst оr dеlаy thе dеvеlоpmеnt оf typе 1 diаbеtеs.

Аcnе

Аcnе trеаtmеnt is аnоthеr prоmising usе fоr CBD. Thе cоnditiоn is cаusеd, in pаrt, by inflаmmаtiоn аnd оvеrwоrkеd sеbаcеоus glаnds in thе bоdy.

А 2014 study fоund thаt CBD hеlps tо lоwеr thе prоductiоn оf sеbum thаt lеаds tо аcnе, pаrtly bеcаusе оf its аnti-inflаmmаtоry еffеct оn thе bоdy. Sеbum is аn оily substаncе, аnd оvеrprоductiоn cаn cаusе аcnе.

CBD cоuld bеcоmе а futurе trеаtmеnt fоr аcnе vulgаris, thе mоst cоmmоn fоrm оf аcnе.

Аlzhеimеr’s Disеаsе

Initiаl rеsеаrch fоund thаt CBD wаs аblе tо prеvеnt thе dеvеlоpmеnt оf sоciаl rеcоgnitiоn dеficit in pаrticipаnts.

This mеаns thаt CBD cоuld hеlp pеоplе in thе еаrly stаgеs оf Аlzhеimеr’s tо kееp thе аbility tо rеcоgnizе thе fаcеs оf pеоplе thаt thеy knоw.

This is thе first еvidеncе thаt CBD mаy slоw thе prоgrеssiоn оf Аlzhеimеr’s disеаsе.

Mеdicinаl Prоpеrtiеs оf CBD Оil

Mаrijuаnа cоntаins mаny diffеrеnt chеmicаls, mоrе thаn 100 оf which аrе cаllеd cаnnаbinоids. This tеrm mеаns thаt thеy hаvе chеmicаl links tо tеtrаhydrоcаnnаbinоl (THC), thе psychоаctivе substаncе in mаrijuаnа thаt prоducеs its ‘high.’

Оf аll thе cаnnаbinоids in mаrijuаnа, rеsеаrchеrs tеnd tо fоcus оn THC аnd cаnnаbidiоl (CBD). CBD is nоt а psychоаctivе substаncе аs it dоеs nоt prоducе а ‘high,’ but it hаs sеvеrаl mеdicinаl usеs.

Cаnnаbinоids intеrаct with rеcеptоrs in thе cеntrаl nеrvоus systеm оf thе bоdy. This intеrаctiоn cаn аffеct sеvеrаl prоcеssеs in thе brаin аnd nеrvоus systеm, such аs:

• Mооd
• Pаin
• Mеmоry
• Cооrdinаtiоn
• Аppеtitе

Sоmе cаnnаbinоids, including CBD, mаy аlsо hаvе аnti-inflаmmаtоry prоpеrtiеs.

Thе vаriоus cаnnаbinоids аll hаvе diffеrеnt prоpеrtiеs, аnd thеy mаy bе usеful fоr trеаting а rаngе оf hеаlth cоnditiоns.

CBD оil fоr lupus

With а lаck оf rеsеаrch оn CBD оil fоr lupus, wе hаvе tо gо оn whаt wе knоw аbоut CBD in gеnеrаl аnd whаt wе cаn undеrstаnd frоm rеsеаrch intо cоnditiоns with similаr symptоms оr pаthоlоgy. This pоtеntiаl trеаtmеnt is likеly tо gеt аttеntiоn frоm lupus rеsеаrchеrs еvеntuаlly, thоugh, fоr sеvеrаl rеаsоns.

• Lupus cоntributеs tо аn еpidеmic оf pаin, including untrеаtеd аnd undеrtrеаtеd pаin. Currеnt trеаtmеnts аrе fаr frоm pеrfеct, sо drug cоmpаniеs hаvе а sizаblе finаnciаl incеntivе tо find mоrе еffеctivе mеdicаtiоns.
• Thе оpiоid аddictiоn/оvеrdоsе еpidеmic is а hugе prоblеm fоr sоciеty thаt puts а lоt оf strаin оn thе rеsоurcеs оf thе mеdicаl cоmmunity аs wеll аs lаw еnfоrcеmеnt. Mеаnwhilе, sеvеrаl studiеs hаvе shоwn thаt whеn mаrijuаnа bеcоmеs lеgаl in а stаtе, thе numbеr оf оpiоid prеscriptiоns—аnd оvеrdоsе dеаths—drоps. Thаt’s bоund tо gеt thе аttеntiоn оf dоctоrs, whо wаnt tо prоtеct thеir pаtiеnts, lаw еnfоrcеmеnt аgеnciеs bаttling thе prоblеm, аnd lаwmаkеrs sееking sоlutiоns.
• А wеаlth оf rеsеаrch suggеsts thаt CBD оil is еffеctivе аgаinst pаin аnd inflаmmаtiоn. In its purе fоrm, it’s gеnеrаlly rеgаrdеd аs sаfе, аs wеll. Lupus invоlvеs cоnsidеrаblе inflаmmаtiоn.
• Wе hаvе аbundаnt аnеcdоtаl еvidеncе frоm pеоplе with lupus whо sаy it’s еffеctivе. Thаt cаn’t substitutе fоr sciеntific prооf, but it’s оnе mоrе thing thаt gеts dоctоrs intеrеstеd.

Аdditiоnаlly, а 2018 study fоund thаt CBD mаy аltеr T-cеll аctivity аftеr spinаl cоrd injury. Аbnоrmаl аctivity оf T-cеlls (which аrе pаrt оf thе immunе systеm) аrе bеliеvеd tо bе invоlvеd in lupus.

Lupus cаn includе pаin frоm nеurоpаthy (nеrvе dаmаgе), аnd multiplе studiеs suggеst thаt CBD cаn аllеviаtе thаt typе оf pаin frоm diаbеtеs, HIV, аnd оthеr sоurcеs.

CBD Sidе Еffеcts

Wе prоbаbly dоn’t yеt knоw аll оf thе pоssiblе sidе еffеcts оf CBD. Sоmе sidе еffеcts thаt hаvе bееn rеpоrtеd аrе:

• Chаngеs tо livеr еnzymеs usеd tо prоcеss drugs
• Dry mоuth
• Lоw blооd prеssurе
• Lighthеаdеdnеss
• Drоwsinеss
• Incrеаsеd trеmоr in Pаrkinsоn’s disеаsе, аt high dоsеs

Thе Wоrld Hеаlth Оrgаnizаtiоn sаys CBD оil mаy аlsо:

• Аltеr hоrmоnаl lеvеls
• Stimulаtе thе immunе systеm аt lоw lеvеls, аnd supprеss it аt highеr lеvеls

CBD dоеsn’t аppеаr tо lеаd tо аddictiоn оr аbusе. It’s аlsо bеliеvеd tо hаvе а lоw tоxicity lеvеl, which mеаns it tаkеs а lоt tо cаusе аn оvеrdоsе.

Lupus erythematosus describes a collection of autoimmune diseases with several varying symptoms that may affect different body systems. Lupus erythematosus may present as a systemic disease or in a cutaneous form known as incomplete lupus erythematosus. Lupus may also be more extensively categorized into several subtypes. The most common and most severe form is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Lupus may be difficult to diagnose because of its signs and symptoms often mimicking other illnesses. People born with a higher likelihood of developing lupus may be triggered by infections, drugs, or sunlight. No cure for lupus exists but there are ways to help treat and mange symptoms.

Lupus has four main forms which include systemic, discoid, drug-induced, and neonatal. Incomplete lupus erythematosus may be further sub-categorized into several types: acute cutaneous erythematosus, and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Discoid lupus erythematosus can be further sub-categorized to include childhood discoid lupus erythematosus, generalized discoid lupus erythematosus, localized discoid lupus erythematosus, chilblain lupus, lupus erythematosus-lichen planus overlap syndrome, lupus erythematosus panniculitis, tumid lupus, verrucous lupus, cutaneous lupus mucinosis.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has varying degrees of severity from mild to severe affecting multiple body systems such as the heart, kidneys, muscles, and bones. Symptoms may include painful, swollen joints, fevers, chest pain, mouth ulcers, hair loss, swollen and tender lymph nodes, fatigue, and red rash known as a “butterfly rash” across the face (1). It is also known as “the great imitator” as it often mimics and may be mistaken for other illnesses. Common early and chronic complaints include malaise, joint pains and muscle pains, fever, and fatigue. Systemic lupus has episodes of more severe illness, called flares. There are also periods of improvement of the disease with few symptoms, called remission (1).

Systemic lupus erythematosus has no clear cause for systemic lupus but it is believed to be a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors. Genetically identical twins have an increased 24% chance of being affected if one of the twins if affected (2). Sunlight, smoking, vitamin D deficiency, female sex hormones, and infections are also believed to increase risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus has a higher incidence rate among females, different symptoms than males, and have higher incidence of flares compared to males (3). Low white blood cell count, arthritis, psychiatric symptoms, and Raynaud’s phenomenon tend to be found in females. Males have a higher likelihood of having seizures, serositis, skin problems, kidney disease, and peripheral neuropathy.

About 70% of people diagnosed with lupus have accompanying skin symptoms. These include the cutaneous categories of lupus such as chronic (discoid) lupus erythematosus, subacute and acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (4). Discoid lupus may display red, thick, scaly patches on skin. Acute cutaneous lupus includes a rash, with some having the classic malar rash known as the butterfly rash displayed across the face. The malar rash occurs in about 30-60% of people with systemic lupus erythematosus. Other accompanying cutaneous symptoms include hair loss, mouth, and nasal ulcer, and lesions on skin.

One of the most common complaints is joint pain, especially of the hands and wrist, though all joints may be affected. About 90% of people with systemic lupus will experience muscle and join pain, known as lupus arthritis. Lupus arthritis differs from rheumatoid arthritis as it does not severely destroy joints and is less disabling to the person. There may be association between rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus as suggested by …(?). Systemic lupus has also been correlated with an increased risk of bone fractures in young females suffering from condition.

Anemia, a decrease in red blood cells circulating the blood stream, is common in systemic lupus and develops in approximately 50% of the cases. It is unclear if low white blood cells and low platelets may be due to the disease or a side effect of treatment of lupus but there seems to be association with antiphospholipid syndrome (?). Antiphospholipid syndrome is an autoimmune clotting disorder that promotes thrombus formation in veins and arteries among other complications (?). Other complications associated with antiphospholipid syndrome include a prolonged partial thromboplastin time which inhibits clot formation and may prolong bleeding time.

Systemic lupus erythematosus may also affect the heart by causing pericarditis, which is an inflammation of the outer membrane surrounding the heart. It may also cause myocarditis, which is inflammation of the heart muscle. It has also been found to cause endocarditis, specific to lupus called Libman-Sacks endocarditis, which is inflammation of the inner lining of the heart not caused by infection.

Systemic lupus erythematosus can also cause pleurisy, which is inflammation of the pleurae. Further complications pertaining to lungs can include pneumonitis, pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary hemorrhage or emboli, and/or chronic interstitial lung disease.

In some people diagnosed with systemic lupus, there may be minimal kidney damage involvement. In those with lupus nephritis, there may be renal impairment leading to end-stage (5) kidney failure. This is preventable with early diagnosis and management of lupus. Lupus nephritis is a type of glomerulonephritis, which causes inflammation of the glomeruli by immune complex deposits along the glomerular basement membrane (6).

Systemic lupus can affect the central and peripheral nervous system, possibly resulting in neuropsychiatric syndromes. The term NPSLE is used to describe diagnoses of neuropsychiatric syndromes along with system lupus. One of the most common neurological disorder of system lupus are headaches. Other common symptoms are mood disorder, cognitive dysfunction, seizures, cerebrovascular disease, anxiety, depression, psychosis, and in extreme personality disorders. Rare symptoms include Guillain-Barre syndrome, aseptic meningitis, movement disorder, myasthenia gravis, plexopathy, and cranial neuropathy. A critical feature of system lupus is the damaging effects on epithelial cells of the blood-brain barrier, making the brain vulnerable.

Another common organ involvement are the eyes. Up to one-third of those diagnosed with systemic lupus have dry eye syndrome, and Sjogren’s syndrome. Retinopathy, ischemic optic neuropathy, secondary angle-closure glaucoma, and retinal detachment may also be a symptom. Eye involvement may be further complicated by treatments used for systemic lupus (7).

Systemic lupus erythematosus causes an increased fetal death rate and spontaneous abortion, with an average live-birth rate of 72% (?). Pregnancy complications worsen when there is a systemic lupus flare during pregnancy. Infants born from a mother with systemic lupus may be born with neonatal lupus. Neonatal lupus neonates usually present with rashes and lesions, similar to subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus, and at times with further abnormalities involving the heart conduction or hepatosplenomegaly (?). Neonatal lupus is commonly self-limiting and benign.

Causes

The causes of systemic lupus erythematosus has a genetic susceptibility and environmental triggers. Systemic lupus tends to run in families but a specific gene has not been attributed to causing systemic lupus. Several genes appear to contribute to susceptibility when triggered by an environmental trigger to develop lupus. Susceptibility appears to possibly be population-specific with genetic studies showing a rate greater than 66% heritability (?). Genetically identical twins where one twin was affected with lupus, had a rate greater than 35% of susceptibility to also develop lupus compared to fraternal twins with a rate of 2-5% (?).

Drug-induced lupus erythematosus is another category of lupus that is a reversible condition. Drug-induced lupus occurs in people being treated for chronic illnesses, mimicking systemic lupus erythematosus. There are more than thirty-eight medications that can trigger drug-induced lupus with chronic use. Most commonly include isoniazid, procainamide, hydralazine, quinidine, and phenytoin. The symptoms of drug-induced lupus usually stop once the medications are discontinued. Approximately 5% of people diagnosed with drug-induced lupus erythematosus develop to system lupus erythematosus (?).

Diagnosis

Many physicians follow the diagnosis criteria of the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria not intended for individual diagnosis. This is a more rigorous classification criteria established primarily for scientific research and controlled trails that require stringent definitions. There are other diagnostic criteria meant for individual diagnosis that may be used. There are eleven established symptoms of the American College of Rheumatology classification, which a person must meet 4 out of 11 symptoms to be able to participate in studies pertaining to systemic lupus. These 11 symptoms include malar rash, discoid rash, serositis (pleurisy, or pericarditis), oral ulcers, arthritis, photosensitivity, hematologic disorder (anemia, leukopenia, lymphopenia), renal disorders, anti-nuclear antibody test, immunologic disorder, neurologic disorder (seizures, psychosis).

The main serologic diagnostic testing for system lupus erythematosus is the antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing and anti-extractable nuclear antigen (anti-ENA). Many techniques are available to test for ANA’s but most used is the indirect immunofluorescence (IF) method. Using this method, the lupus band test is interpreted as evidence of systemic lupus erythematosus (8). Antinuclear antibody testing include anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies which have been linked to system lupus. ANA also includes anti-histone antibodies which have been linked to drug-induced lupus erythematosus. Anti-dsDNA antibodies are very specific for systemic lupus, present in up to 70% of systemic lupus cases.

Lupus

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your tissues and organs that can potentially damage many parts of the body. Lupus is a serious disease that can affect anyone. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems – your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs –. Lupus can be difficult to detect because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other illnesses.

Symptoms!

The most common symptoms of Lupus are:

• Extreme tiredness
• Headaches
• Fevers
• Anemia
• Painful or swollen joints
• Swelling in feet, legs, hands, and around eyes
• Hair loss
• Fingers turning white and/or blue when cold
• Etc.

No two cases of lupus are the exact same. Most people with lupus have mild disease characterized by episodes. The signs and symptoms of Lupus that occur will depend on which body systems are affected. Lupus is referred to as the “Great Imitator” because of the imitation of other diseases. Lupus is a complicated and unpredictable disease. You don’t know when symptoms will strike or how long a flare could last.

Causes and Complications

The causes of Lupus is unknown, though there are various things – environmental factors, genetics, epigenetics, viruses, and infections – that play a role. Sunlight, infections, and some medicines are some potential triggers. Some things that increase your chances of getting Lupus are your sex, age, and race. Kidney, Brain and Nervous Systems, Blood and Blood Vessels, Lung, and Heart Problems can all occur when dealing with Lupus.

Diagnosis and Treatment

No one test can diagnose Lupus. Diagnosing Lupus is difficult because of the crazy characteristics such as the mimicking of other diseases and different symptoms varying from person to person. There are different tests for diagnosing – Laboratory Tests (complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, kidney and liver assessment, urinalysis, antinuclear antibody test), Imaging Tests (chest x-ray test and echocardiogram), and Biopsy – which still can’t diagnose Lupus alone. The different medicines that can help – Immunosuppressants, Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, Antimalarial Drugs, Corticosteroids, and Biologics – there are various medicines that are in these categories.

Living with Lupus!

Most people can live a normal life. You should still attempt to pitch in on your health by forming a support system, getting involved in your care, staying active, and avoiding sun exposure. Watching your health and attending all doctor appointments is important. If you experience unusual things in a day you should go to the doctor immediately. Lupus can’t be treated as a minor issue.

Cancer and Pregnancy!

Lupus may cause cancer and pregnancy problems. Women with lupus have a higher risk of miscarriage. If you’re planning on pregnancy it would be best to plan your pregnancy around a time when your lupus flare is at a low. While pregnant attempt to avoid medicines that can harm your baby. If your Lupus is always at a major high then it is best to just use birth control. Lupus increases the risk of high blood pressure during pregnancy.

Other Information!

Lupus is critical yet it isn’t contagious, you can’t catch or give Lupus to anyone around you. People with lupus can learn to manage the disease to minimize its impact on their lives. Sometimes the things people with Lupus don’t do can be just as important as those things they do. Smoking, drinking, and drugs are a bad idea for people with Lupus. Doctors suggest that people with Lupus stay away from Birth Control because of the high dose estrogen. With taking the right medicine and keeping your health up, many teens with Lupus are able to go to school, play sports, and hangout with friends.

Life shouldn’t have to stop because of Lupus, live life while you can but stay cautious with the things that you do. Some people shared there story with Lupus and they are very encouraging and I hope they can encourage others with Lupus.

“Crafting An Artist’s Healthy Future”

“ Emily Olson has always loved drawing, and she wanted to make a living with her art. At 19, she decided to pursue that goal by becoming a tattoo artist. Just six months after she began working at a tattoo shop, however, Emily’s hopes for her future appeared to be in jeopardy. Diagnosed four years earlier with lupus, her symptoms began to get progressively worse.

That decline was the beginning of a series of complications that led Emily to Mayo Clinic. Her care team at Mayo guided her through treatment, including a kidney transplant, that allowed Emily to move forward in her life and her career

‘I recommend Mayo to anyone who has a serious health issue,’ Emily says. ‘I feel like if I had gone anywhere else, things would not have turned out as well as they did.’

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s tissues and organs. Over the years, Emily tried to live with the joint pain, rashes, and fatigue that result from the inflammation lupus causes. But one night in January 2017, she was so out of breath trying to go up the stairs in her home in Osceola, Wisconsin, that her mother drove her to the local emergency department. She was diagnosed with pneumonia.

‘I didn’t think that was right, so the next morning my mom and I drove two-and-a-half hours to the ER at Mayo Clinic in Rochester,’ Emily recalls.

Emily’s instincts were right. There was much more going on than pneumonia. Tests showed her potassium level to be extremely high, and lab work revealed that her red blood cells and platelets were being destroyed. She was diagnosed with lupus nephritis — an inflammation of the kidneys caused by lupus. Emily was sent to the intensive care unit, where she was seen by Mayo Clinic rheumatology fellow Ali Duarte-Garcia, M.D.” https://sharing.mayoclinic.org/2018/10/05/crafting-an-artists-healthy-future/

Emily’s story goes on but in the end, I’m glad everything turned out for the better for her. Life is only so long and chronic diseases and other problems have you feeling like life is not worth living but nothing is better than life itself.

References

1. Lupus Foundation of America.July 31, 2013. https://www.lupus.org/resources/what-is-lupus
2. Lupus Research Alliance. Nov. 16, 2017. https://www.lupusresearch.org/
3. Mayo Clinic. Oct. 25, 2017. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/symptoms-causes/syc-20365789

There are many conditions that are faced by the population across the lifespan. At times, it may be difficult to cope with being diagnosed with a condition in the early stages, especially the conditions that are diagnosed at an early age between 18-25. It is extremely important to be aware of some of the common conditions and their manifestations to obtain a better understanding of them. Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus (SLE) is an inflammatory condition where the body’s own immune system attacks the organs of the body. In some cases, this can become quite severe if not treated early and appropriately. Another condition commonly diagnosed at a young age is Crohn’s disease. This is another chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal system where lesions are present along the digestive tract and causes intermittent cramping abdominal pain and diarrhea. Multiple sclerosis is a chronic demyelinating condition which affects mainly females between 20-25 years of age and continues throughout the lifespan.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease which demyelinates the nervous system and therefore damages the insulating nerve cells of the brain and spinal cord. There is no reason for the incidence of MS however there are environmental and hereditary factors which may be responsible. It occurs predominantly in 20-50 year old females but can occur in males as well. In the clinical environment, a patient with MS would typically present with the following symptoms: muscle weakness, weak reflexes, muscle spasms, double vision or blindness, incoordination, difficulty moving and imbalance (Koriem, 2016). There are four types of MS and the classification is important for treatment. The types are relapse-remitting, primary progressive, secondary progressive and progressive relapsing. Unfortunately, treatment options are very limited for MS and there is no cure. However, the treatments provided attempt to improve the neuronal function and limit the progression of the disease.

Crohn’s disease (CD) is an idiopathic chronic inflammatory bowel disease with stages of activity and remission. The main characteristic of Crohn’s is that there are lesions that affect the entire gastrointestinal tract. It occurs predominantly between the ages of 15-35 and affects men and women equally. The presentation of CD varies depending on the location and severity of the disease pattern. In the clinical environment, it is likely that a patient would typically present with abdominal pain usually located in the right iliac fossa and may complain of chronic diarrhea (Ballester Ferré, 2018). It is also common to be presented with systemic symptoms including malaise, fever or weight loss. The main aim for treatment is to achieve clinical and endoscopic remission. Treatment of CD includes glucocorticoids, immunomodulatory and surgery.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that affects organ systems predominantly in females aged 15-40. The most common form is systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and is mainly characterized by the body attacking healthy tissue rather than foreign bodies. This process can occur in many organs of the body but mainly takes place in skin, muscles, joints, kidneys, heart and lungs (Lahita, Tsokos, Buyon & Koike, 2011). In the clinical environment, patients with SLE may present with some of the following symptoms: joint and muscle pain, skin rashes, hair loss, fatigue, ulcers, chest pain, seizures and poor kidney function. Lupus has no cure; however, medications are provided to manage the condition and if diagnosed in the early stages this can prevent progression.

Currently, there is no known cause or cure for Lupus but experts believe it may be due to genetics, hormonal and environmental factors. Lupus can flare up in unpredictable patterns over the course of a year which can make existing symptoms more severe or cause the patient to develop new symptoms. Due to the unpredictability of the condition, the short term and long term goals of treatment must be taken into consideration to achieve the most desirable outcome. Doctors aim to decrease disease activity while taking into considering the short term and long term side effects of the medications they are prescribing their patients.

The most common general clinical presentation of SLE is fatigue as well as fever and weight loss. Musculoskeletal manifestations include morning stiffness as well as mild joint swelling. From a skin point of view, patients may develop a malar or butterfly rash. The discoid rashes are the most severe. Patients may also present with pulmonary features such as chest pain on inspiration usually in the form of pleurisy. It is possible that lupus activity can cause this. Cardiac manifestations must also be investigated as SLE may also cause premature coronary artery disease or pericarditis. Oral ulceration is the most common gastrointestinal feature as well as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. At times, renal disease may also develop due to SLE and so it is important to regularly measure renal function as well as monitoring urine for proteinuria. Failing this, patients are at risk of chronic renal damage and may require dialysis or transplant. Patients suffering from SLE may also present with neurological symptoms such as headaches, seizures or aseptic meningitis. According to (Smith & Gordon, 2010), a patient must have four or more of the eleven criteria in order to be diagnosed with SLE. Patients can also be diagnosed through laboratory features such as a full blood count where leucopoenia is detected. “Anaemia and thrombocytopenia may also be present” (Smith & Gordon, 2010). Autoantibodies are also associated with SLE, such as antinuclear antibody. “Anti double-stranded DNA antibodies occur in around 60% of lupus patients” (Smith & Gordon, 2010). Patients who have a rising anti-dsDNA antibody and decreasing complement levels should be carefully monitored as this may indicate a flare up of Lupus and therefore increased treatment may be necessary.

The clinical presentations of SLE are affected with age. Majority of the time the severity of symptoms may increase with age due to the fact that as you age you must deal with not only your current symptoms, but also the damage that your disease activity has caused in the past. Another reason there may be complications is because of the side effects related to allopathic treatments that the patient has been on for an extended period of time such as kidney dysfunction. Fatigue can also be progressive with age. Lupus creates a lot of damage as you age such as destruction of joints and causes chronic pain. This may mean physical surgery due to eroded cartilage etc. there is also a risk of osteoporosis with lupus due to the medications which accelerate bone loss such as glucocortoids. This may mean that the patient is more likely to experience fractures.

Allopathic treatment of SLE is dependent on the activity and severity of the disease, it therefore needs to be individualised to each patient. The main form of medicinal treatment is glucocorticoids, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antimalarial’s and immunosuppressant’s with the aim to reach either remission or achieve minimal disease activity at minimum dosage of these drugs (Mejia-Vilet, Tejeda-Maldonado & Correa-Rotter, 2018). The clinical reasoning as well as side effects of these medications in the treatment of lupus will be discussed in further detail.

Although there is currently no cure for Lupus, Chiropractic care can be extremely beneficial in treating uncomfortable and painful joints and muscles in those who suffer from the condition. SLE is responsible for the inflammation that occurs in the tissues and causes damage to the joints and organs. Inflammation can be subsided with Chiropractic treatment. Proper alignment of the spine may help with the aches and pains associated with Lupus and also aid in preventing the musculoskeletal symptoms of SLE from worsening. Some patients who suffer from SLE may be sensitive to touch and Chiropractors have a variety of treating tools to accommodate for those patients. These include modalities such as light trigger therapy, stretching to restore flexibility and improve range of motion, low impulse electric stimulation, cold laser treatments, ultrasound and nutrition measures to reduce inflammation.

A study conducted by Merrell and Shulman found that there is a 51% survival rate 4 years post diagnosis. The prognosis has Improved remarkably to a 90% 10 year survival rate since that study was conducted. Antimalarial therapy for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with improved survival and reduced disease activity, as well as cardioprotective and anticancer effects. Life expectancy is not an easy calculation as it differs from person to person due to the individualised symptoms and complications a patient may face. However, due to the successful progression of treatments, Lupus is no longer considered fatal. Some people experience extreme flare ups and these are the people who are likely to have further complications such as organ damage and infections, which may decrease their life expectancy. Research has proven that people diagnosed with Lupus have been living with the disease for up to 40 years. As research progresses, scientists hope to identify people who have a risk of lupus through genetic studies. This will allow doctors to begin preventing known complications much earlier and further improve the life expectancy. Researchers also hope to find the molecular pathways that cause lupus so that they can target them for new therapies.

The toxicity of the drugs prescribed to lupus patients must be monitored. Some patients do not respond to standard treatment and at times require a higher unacceptable dose of medications to achieve remission.

Glucocorticoids are potent anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressant agents, these bind to intracellular glucocorticoid receptors (nuclear receptors) to alter gene transcription. Glucocorticoids are the main form of treatment for SLE with short-term side effects of weight gain, peripheral oedema, glaucoma, high blood pressure and also psychological effects such as confusion and memory and behaviour changes. The long term side effects of glucocorticoids include cataracts, increased risk of infections, osteoporosis, slower wound healing and supressed adrenal gland hormone production (Smith & Gordon, 2010).

Antimalarial’s such as hydroxychloroquine are used to improve the discoid lesions associated with SLE. such as chloroquine have short term side effects such as nausea, vomiting, headache, dizziness and abdominal pain. The rarer side effects include anxiety, depression, restlessness and hallucinations. The efficacy of antimalarial’s are not widely studied however there is no evidence that higher doses are more effective than low doses. They cause inhibition of B cell-activating factor which aids in the treatment of skin lupus (Smith & Gordon, 2010). Patients with impaired renal function, caution with dosing of antimalarial agents is recommended and careful monitoring for adverse events should be undertaken (Lee, Silverman & Bargman, 2011).

Immunosuppressant’s such as Mycophenolic acid (MMF) is used as induction therapy to stop the damage and recover the function loss caused by disease activity of lupus. This therapy promotes the maintenance of remission and prevents relapse. Patients may encounter side effects from using immunosuppressant’s such as fever, chills, lower back pain, trouble or painful urinating and fatigue or weakness.

‘My Lupus was literally a matter of life-or-death”, Said Selena Gomez, a celebrity who had been diagnosed with lupus. In 2017, This young singer announced on Instagram that she had a kidney transplant due to complications from Lupus. Now she has returned to the limelight as she sings in her new song “I’ve been running through the jungle; I’ve been crying with the wolves” (the word ‘lupus’ means ‘wolf’ in Latin).

Systemic lupus erythematosus (‘lupus’ or ‘SLE’) is one of the autoimmune diseases, which is also known as undead cancer, for although this disease may not directly cause death, it is extremely difficult to cure, and patients often suffer from it for life. So, what is SLE, and how to treat it? This article may answer these questions.

SLE is an autoimmune disease. Immune system is like a health guard in human bodies. When ‘foreign enemies’ such as bacteria and viruses invade, the system will release an alarm and destroy thees ‘enemies’. However, for some people, their immune systems are abnormal, and they attack the body’s own tissue and organs because the systems confuse them for something foreign, which is also the cause of most other autoimmune diseases. The main symptoms of SLE are:

1. Rash. About 80% of patients may develop various rashes during the course of the disease. The most typical symptom is butterfly-shaped rush on the cheeks and nasal bridge. Some patients may experience redness of the skin when exposed to the sun.
2. Joint pain. More than 60% of patients suffer from joint pain on finger, wrist, knee, etc.
3. Hair loss. SLE may cause excessive hair loss, especially in a short period of time, which is the result of inflammation. This kind of inflammation can also lead to loss of eyebrows, beards and eyelashes, but it is reversible if SLE can be treated successfully.
4. Unusual urine. The patients’ urine may be foamy or have a red color.

If two or more of the above symptoms occur, one should be more vigilant against SLE and go to the hospital for a professional diagnosis soon.

A diagnosis of SLE is made based on not only symptoms, but also a physical examination and blood tests, including anti-nuclear antibody (ANA) test, anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) antibody test, anti-Ro antibody test, antiphospholipid antibody test, complement level test, kidney and liver function tests, etc. These tests can also be helpful in monitoring the condition after diagnosis – for example, a combination of higher levels of anti-dsDNA and falling complement levels (often accompanied by a high ESR test) is helpful in predicting a flare-up of lupus. If the C-reactive protein (CRP), another measure of inflammation, is raised, your doctor would also consider whether you have an infection.

Except for congenital genetic factors, acquired factors are also important reasons for the onset of SLE. In addition to early diagnosis and regular treatment, patients also need to quit smoking and drinking, stop staying up late, release oneself from high stress, and avoid overwork.

The current research suggests that SLE cannot be cured, but the vast majority of patients can control the disease through drugs. The ideal state is to gradually reduce to a smaller dose for long-term maintenance following the doctor’s advice. But even so, regular re-examination is required. SLE patients must not take it upon themselves to reduce the dose or stop taking medicine, which may cause organ failure and even endanger life.

The signs and symptoms of SLE vary among affected individuals. Therefore, professional doctors evaluate the diagnosis and develop individualized treatments for each patient. Support groups also help them to learn effective strategies for living with SLE.

My doctor sent me for a sleep study after my husband told him how loudly I snored. I tried to tell them that it wasn’t that bad, but as it turned out, it was. The night of the study, they put a cpap (continuous positive airway pressure) machine on me in the middle of the night. The nurse told me that I stopped breathing over 90 times per minute. No wonder I didn’t feel rested in the morning! But even when I got my own cpap machine and used it every night, it seemed like I could never get enough sleep. It wasn’t but a few months later that I was diagnosed with lupus.

Lupus and Sleep Disorders

According to the National Institutes of Health, between 55% and 85% of lupus patients have sleep disorders. I didn’t know it at the time, but my sleep issues were just beginning. When I was first diagnosed, I was in constant pain so it was impossible to sleep. Not being able to sleep made the pain seem worse, so it was a vicious cycle.

When I finally got an appointment to see a pain management specialist, he gave me Lyrica and Cymbalta for the pain. They seemed like little miracle pills to me. I quickly found out that I can’t take Lyrica during the day – it turns me into a drunken monkey! But I have no problems with it at night. I take them an hour or so before bedtime and I’m usually ready to fall asleep by the time I go to bed.

So far it sounds good, right? It is, except when I wake up in the middle of the night. It doesn’t take much to wake me up. My husband can bump me, or the dog barks and my eyes fly open. Once I’m awake, I rarely go back to sleep. So I’m a zombie the next day. Then I need a nap. If I nap too long, I can’t fall asleep at bedtime. Another vicious cycle.

Tips for Better Sleep

The experts at Lupus.org have lots of tips to help you sleep better. Some of them include:

1. Put away all of your devices 30 minutes to an hour before bedtime. This includes your cell phone, iPad and computers.
2. Keep your bedroom a few degrees cooler than the rest of the house.
3. Exercise daily but not right before bedtime.
4. Take a warm bath to help you relax.
5. Limit naps to less than an hour.
6. Limit caffeine in the evening hours. Caffeine can stay in your system for up to 6 hours.

Following these suggestions, plus using my cpap machine, helps me sleep through the night most nights. I still have times that I wake up and can’t go back to sleep. On those nights, I’ll read a book or listen to a hypnosis recording. If I’m lucky, one of these will put me back to sleep, usually just a few minutes before the alarm goes off.

The day you find out that you have lupus is a day you’ll always remember. It sticks with you like remembering where you were the day Elvis died. It is like a dividing line between the “normal” days before and your “new normal” afterward. Everyone has different symptoms that lead them to make that first appointment. Mine came when I bought a treadmill and could only walk for 3 minutes before I was gasping for breath. I used to walk two miles a day so I knew something was wrong. I made the appointment with my doctor, but I already knew she was going to tell me I needed to lose weight. I was prepared for that, I wasn’t prepared for her sending me to the lab for two dozen different blood tests.

Most People Have Never Heard of Lupus

It was two weeks between the tests and my appointment to discuss the results. I dreamed up all kinds of things it could be, but never considered lupus. Unless you know someone who has it, you have probably haven’t even heard of lupus.

Most of my results were normal or negative, so when the ANA was positive, it really caught my attention. I thought it was a good thing. Turns out, it’s a marker for Lupus. I didn’t realize those three letters were going to change my life.

Being Diagnosed With Lupus Will Increase Your Vocabulary

It’s natural to want to read everything you can find about your new chronic illness. You want to be proactive and understand what all of these blood tests are for. You’ll also be visiting a lot of specialized doctors: a rheumatologist, pulmonologist, pain specialist, ophthalmologist, dermatologist, cardiologist, neurologist, ENT, and gastroenterologist.

You need to know what part each of these doctors plays in your treatment. And finally, you’ll be getting prescriptions for drugs you’ve never heard of before. You’ll need to figure out what each one is supposed to do and how to know if it’s working for you or not. You’ll become a specialist in your own health. After all, nobody knows your own body better than you.

Remember The Old Adage: Trust But Verify

All of this information is just a few clicks away. But with the Internet, the sheer amount of reading material is overwhelming. And sometimes, it’s outdated or just plain wrong. You have to be careful who you trust. Pay attention to the background of the website or the person writing the article.

Talk to your primary care physician. A good one will become your best source of information but will also be open to listening to you if you have a concern or want to try something new.

I doubt that anyone has ever wanted lupus but I can think of many things that could be worse. Getting the right combination of meds has taken some trial and error. I have good days and bad days. But I’m learning to live with it. Like it or not, lupus is here to stay.