Lupus

What is lupus?

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues. These immune attacks cause significant inflammation that may impact nearly any body area.

Lupus often affects your muscles, joints, and skin but can cause inflammation and serious problems in most organs, including your heart, brain, lungs, and kidneys.

What symptoms does lupus cause?

Most people with lupus experience symptom flare-ups alternating with periods of disease remission. Symptom flares are often triggered by sunlight, certain medications, viral illnesses, injuries, and stress.

Since lupus affects so many organs, you can have many possible symptoms. Nearly everyone with lupus struggles with fatigue and a low-grade fever. You may also experience one or more of the following:

• A butterfly-shaped rash on your face
• Skin rashes (coin-shaped)
• Chest pain
• Muscle aches
• Dry eyes
• Headaches
• Mouth sores
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Confusion or memory loss
• Joint pain and stiffness (arthritis)
• White or blue fingers and toes (in the cold or during stress)

More than 80% of people with lupus develop skin symptoms, ranging from distinct coin-shaped lesions to a body-wide rash. However, the most common is a butterfly-shaped rash across your cheeks and nose.

How is lupus treated?

When diagnosing lupus, Dr. Rehman evaluates your symptoms and performs specific lab tests, such as a complete blood count, antinuclear antibody test, and other immunologic tests.

After verifying you have lupus, Dr. Rehman starts your treatment by helping you identify your triggers and creating a plan to avoid them. He also prescribes medications and therapies that:

• Manage pain
• Diminish inflammation
• Prevent flare-ups
• Reduce antibodies attacking tissues
• Suppress your immune system
• Protect your skin from ultraviolet light

Sunscreens and protective clothing are essential, as exposure to any ultraviolet light (including many fluorescent lights) triggers a lupus flare-up.

As an expert in treating lupus, Dr. Rehman may also recommend novel therapies, including advanced biologic medications.

Lupus accelerates the development of clogged arteries and increases your risk of serious diseases, including kidney damage, heart disease, and brain inflammation. Dr. Rehman closely monitors your health and recommends treatments and lifestyle changes to prevent or treat complications.

With individualized treatment at the Rheumatology Clinic of Houston, you can enjoy life free from debilitating symptoms. To schedule an appointment, call or book online today.