04/02/2022
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects various parts of our body, especially the skin,joints, kidneys, blood, brain and nerves. SLE is a chronic disease. In this disease, our immune system starts working against our own body and damages our organs. According to the figures -
1. This disease is found more in Asian, African and African-American people.
2. In India, this disease is seen in 60 people out of 100000.
3. This disease is found more in women of 15-45 years and is found nine times more in women than in men. There is no concrete reason for the occurrence of this disease.
Senior Internist and Rheumatologist Dr. Bikas Saurabh MD, MRCP, MRCP SCE Rheumatology(UK), says that this disease is not as rare as it is believed. There is a need of awareness this disease in both the doctors and the patients
(a) If a fever persists for more than two-three weeks and the cause of the fever is not clear from initial sets of investigations, then Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) should be one of the differential dignoses.
(b) If a woman especially 15-45 years old has joint pain or swelling or both with some systemic features Systemic Lupus Erythematosus should be ruled out.
(c) In patients has age in between 15 and 45 ys with symptoms related to kidney disese , such as less amount of urine formation, foam formation in urine, increased blood pressure, etc, SLE should be thought of.
(d) If any patient complains of excessive fatigue and lethargy, and on blood test Hemoglobin (Hb) is found to be low and the reason is not clear even after ruling out the common causes of Hb deficiency then Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can also be the one of causes.
Similarly, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus should be ruled out if a patient is found to have low white blood cells (WBC) or platelets, or both, on repeated tests
(e) If there is a significant hair fall, blisters in the mouth and a red rash in the shape of a butterfly on the face, which increases in the sun, then Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can also be one of the reasons.
(f) Some patients come with complaints of persistent chest pain, along with this, they also have fever, weight, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can also be one of the the reasons.
In such situation water leaks around the lungs or heart.
(g) We can think of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus as a cause if a young patient has epilepsy, paralysis, nerve disease, etc.
(h)Systemic Lupus Erythematosus should be ruled out if a patient has symptoms in more than one organ. It is true that Systemic Lupus Erythematosus affects different organs, but it is also worth noting that Systemic Lupus Erythematosus can affects only one organ at a time.
