This article is a description of Lupus Erythematosus treatment techniques. Lupus, or more specifically Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, is a chronic autoimmune disease. This means that the body’s immune system no longer performs correctly. Antibodies, which normally attack germs, viruses, and the like, begin attacking the body’s healthy tissue.
Treatment for lupus erythematosus cannot begin without a proper diagnosis. This isn’t always easy. Some of the symptoms of lupus can be so much like those of other illnesses that sometimes lupus can be misdiagnosed as something else, or a physician may miss the diagnosis all together. To help doctors diagnose lupus, the American College of Rheumatology (ARC) put together 11 common measures to help in the diagnosis. If you meet at least four of these measures, or criteria, it is likely that you have lupus and the doctor will follow up with more tests.
Symptoms of lupus vary from one person to the other, so often the systemic lupus erythematosus treatment must be tailored to each person explicitly. It is recommended that a person use a health care team for lupus erythematosus treatment, if possible. This is because most of the time lupus patients have multiple problems, and will usually need to see numerous doctors. For example, lupus patients usually see a rheumatologist for pain and swelling, but if the lupus is attacking the kidneys as well then the patient will also need to see a nephrologist.
Treatment Plans
Treatment for lupus erythematosus starts with a treatment plan which is based on your age, symptoms, general health, and lifestyle. The goals of this plan are to:
- Reduce inflammation
- Suppress your overactive immune system
- Prevent flares, and treat them as they occur
- Control Symptoms like joint pain and fatigue
- Minimize the damage to organs
Several medications will be administered in the treatment of this disease. Drugs made specifically for treatment of lupus erythematosus will most likely be given. These include types of corticosteroids, types of antimalarials, and asprin.
Lupus erythematosus treatment will also require drugs for the conditions that manifest themselves. For instance, someone whose lupus causes seizures will be prescribed anticonvulsants, and if that person has an infection they will also take antibiotics. It may take months or years before the health care team finds the right combination of medications to keep all of a patient’s symptoms under control, but it you life quality will be improved drastically when they do.
