Houston Lupus Treatment

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a disease of the immune system. Usually, the body will shield itself from illness, but in lupus, the immune system attacks tissues in different areas of the body, causing dangerous damage and sickness. Lupus may manifest itself in different ways. The most common symptoms include:

• Arthralgia (achy joints)
• Inflamed joints (arthritis)
• Skin rash
• Unexplained fever
• Soreness in the chest while breathing deeply
• Pale or purple fingers or toes from cold
• Butterfly shaped rash spanning the cheeks and nose
• Loss of hair
• Sensitivity to light sources
• Open sores in nose or mouth
• Extreme or long-time fatigue

In addition to these common problems, people may also develop other problems in isolated regions of the body or a particular organ. If left untreated, these conditions can prove fatal. These conditions include:

• Joints
  Arthritis is a very common concern for those who develop lupus. Pain may occur with or without swelling of the affected area. The pain may be more prominent in the morning hours and arthritis may only be present for only a couple days, or even weeks, however it may be permanent, but it is usually not crippling.

• Blood
  People with the development of lupus may develop diminishing numbers of red blood cells, white blood cells, or platelets. This may occur with or without symptoms. Most patients do not have problems with low blood cell count, so it is important for the patient to get routine blood checks before any problems arise. Blood clots are common in patients with lupus and may occur in the legs, lungs, and even the brain.

• Skin
  Skin problems are another common sign of lupus. Many people with lupus may experience a red rash spanning across their face in the shape of a butterfly. Skin rashes may be aggravated by light sources and more rashes may form after prolonged exposure to sunlight. Patients with lupus may also experience hair loss or mouth sores.

• Kidneys
  Patients having kidney problems associated with lupus may be in a life-threatening situation. These problems are more common in patients that may also have symptoms such as fatigue, arthritis, rash, fever, and weight loss. Kidney disease may also occur in patients where no other symptoms of lupus are present.

• Brain and Spinal Cord
  Brain association may cause uncertainty, depression, seizures or strokes. Fortunately, this is a very rare matter for those with lupus. When the spinal cord is affected, weakness or lack of sensation may be present.

• Heart and Lungs
  The chest may become irritated and may develop chest pain, an irregular heartbeat, or accumulation of fluid around the lungs or heart. The heart valves and lungs may become affected by lupus and the patient will experience shortness of breath if present.

If you have experienced these conditions, it is time to seek medical treatment. New advanced treatment and therapy options can help return much needed physical stability to your life.

How is Lupus treated?

One of the most common forms of treatment includes suppressing the immune system. Many other factors are involved when deciding how to treat lupus including age, overall health, medical history, and severity of the lupus. Some medications used to treat lupus are:

• Steroids - creams that are applied straight to rashes. The use of creams is often safe and effective especially for mild rashes. Steroids may be used in greater doses for cases where internal organs are vulnerable, but this will result in side effects.
• Plaquenil - most often used to keep mild lupus symptoms under control, such as joint or skin disease.
• Cytoxan - a very powerful chemotherapy drug that has effects of suppressing the immune system. It is used to treat the most severe cases of lupus.
• CellCept -  often used after Cytoxan if it was ineffective. It is also a drug used to suppress the immune system and only used in severe cases of lupus.
• Rheumatrex -  often used to suppress the immune system and is another chemotherapy medication. It is most often used for skin disease and arthritis.

Some patients with mild symptoms of lupus may not require treatment, but the other cases may require potent medications.

Consult a Physician

A qualified rheumatologist will help you find the best treatment for your unique case. Call (713) 667-8292 to schedule a consultation for an individualized treatment plan. Our specialized physicians are ready to address any concerns you may have.