Lupus erythematosus is an inflammatory disease of the autoimmune nature. It occurs against the backdrop of a malfunction of the immune system, in which, due to incomprehensible reasons for medicine, it begins to kill klenki own organism, perceiving them as alien. At the same time, the immune system produces special antibodies, which seriously damage the internal organs of the patient.
There are three forms of lupus erythematosus - cutaneous or discoid, systemic and drug.
Red lupus symptoms manifest in the form of foci of reddening of the skin, which in ancient times people compared with bites of wolves, hence the name of the disease. The defeat of the skin is intensified by exposure to sunlight.
Discoid lupus erythematosus - symptoms
The first symptoms of discoid lupus erythematosus are manifested in the appearance of small pink spots in the lips and mucous membrane of the mouth. These spots gradually change shape, merge with each other, increasing in size and affecting all large areas of the skin. Basically, they are localized in open areas of the skin, including those covered with hair, exposed to sunlight - hands, head, neck, upper back.
Discoid lupus erythematosus of internal organs does not affect, but creates an ugly cosmetic effect on the surface of the skin. It can move into a more serious systemic form of lupus erythematosus.
Systemic lupus erythematosus - symptoms
The first symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus are very unclear, inherent in many other diseases. It:
- malaise;
- a slight increase in temperature;
- headache;
- decreased appetite;
- sleep disturbance.
There may also be red spots in the nail plate area, joint and muscle pain.
More serious symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus are pathological changes in muscles, joints, internal organs, in particular in the liver and heart. Also, lupus erythematosus symptoms manifest and affecting the nervous system. In this case, the patient may experience epileptic convulsions, inflammation of the meninges, neuroses , depression, and other mental illnesses.
The composition of blood changes, namely, the amount of hemoglobin and leukocytes can be reduced. Almost half of patients with lupus erythematosus have a presence in the blood of the presence of special antibodies - antiphospholipids, which react with cell membranes (containing phospholipids) and affect blood coagulability. Patients with antiphospholipids in their blood often suffer from vein thrombosis and arteries, which provoke cardiac or cerebral strokes.
External manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus are manifested in the form of rashes on the face, so called exudative erythema in the form of a butterfly, and rashes can also come out on cheekbones. But very often the skin remains untouched, only the internal organs and systems of the body are affected.
Medicinal lupus erythematosus - symptoms
Drug-induced lupus erythematosus occurs against the background of long-term use of individual drugs,
When the disease worsens, lupus erythematosus symptoms can expand. So, the patient can start to lose weight rapidly, lose hair with scraps of hair, swollen lymph nodes.
As can be seen, lupus erythematosus has symptoms that affect almost all organs and systems of the body. As the disease develops, the symptoms are aggravated, other serious pathologies and diseases develop. Therefore, diagnosing the disease of lupus erythematosus, you need as soon as possible to begin its treatment.