Wei Laboratories, Inc.
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| Toll Free: 888.919.1188 International 408.970.8700 |
| Email: wei@weilab.com |
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue,
resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. The condition can affect any part of the body most often the heart, joints,
skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods
of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions. The disease occurs nine times more often in women than in men,
especially in women in child-bearing years, and is more common in those also of non-European descent.
Systemic lupus is the most common form of lupus and affects different organs. Some of the more serious
complications involving major organ systems include: kidneys, lungs, nervous system and brain. Cutaneous Lupus
refers to the skin and includes many types of rashes over the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose. Other rashes
may appear on the face, neck, scalp (areas of the skin that are exposed to sunlight), mouth, nose or vagina. At the
same time, it can produce hair loss and changes in the color of the skin. Another kind of lupus is the Drug-induced
Lupus that is caused by certain prescription drugs. Neonatal lupus is a rare condition that affects infants of women
who have lupus and is caused by antibodies from the mother acting upon the infant in the womb.
Symptoms
Common initial and chronic complaints include fever, discomfort, joint pains, muscle pain, fatigue, and temporary loss
of cognitive abilities. Some may exhibit dermatological manifestations and lesions on the skin with thick and red
patches as well as mouth, nasal and vaginal ulcers. Musculoskeletal symptoms include joint pain, with the small joints
of the hand and wrist usually affected, although all joints are at risk. Anemia may develop in some patients due to low
platelet and white blood cell counts. Inflammation in parts of the heart, lungs and kidneys can occur. Severe damage to
the epithelial cells of the blood-brain barrier produce neuropsychiatric conditions as headaches, cognitive dysfunctions,
mood disorders, cerebrovascular diseases, seizures, anxiety disorders, and psychosis. The main symptoms include:
The exact mechanisms for the development of this condition are still unclear, since the pathogenesis is a multifactor
event. There is no one specific cause for this condition; however a number of genetic susceptibilities and
environmental factors can trigger the disease. The first mechanism may arise genetically; research indicates that may
be a genetic link. Multiple genes appear to influence a person's chance of developing the condition when triggered by
environmental factors. The environmental factors may include: medications (antidepressants or antibiotics), stress,
sunlight, hormones or infections.
Western Medicine Treatment
Because lupus can cause damage to any part of the body, different specialists may be necessary to treat the condition,
such as a cardiologist, who specializes in heart problems, dermatologist, who specializes in diseases that affect the
skin, neurologist, who specializes in problems that affect the brain and nervous system, or a primatologist, who
specializes in high-risk pregnancies.
This condition is treatable through addressing its symptoms with medications such as anti-malarial drugs,
corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. The treatment involves preventing flares and reducing their severity and
duration of the symptoms. In more severe cases, medications that modulate the immune system (corticosteroids and
immunosuppressants) may be used to control the disease and prevent recurrence of symptoms. Since a large
percentage of people with the disease suffer from varying amounts of chronic pain, stronger prescription analgesics
may be used if other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications do not provide effective relief. Intravenous
immunoglobulins may be used to reduce antibody production and promote the clearance of immune complexes from
the body. Renal transplants are the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease, which is one of the complications
of lupus nephritis. Avoiding sunlight is another factor to reduce the onset of the disease, as sunlight is known to
exacerbate the disease.
Alternative Medicine
There is a significant progress using alternative medicine in this area.
If you want a referral of an expert alternative medicine practitioner in your
local area, please use our free referral service by calling our toll-free at
1-888-919-1188, or e-mail us to wei@weilab.com, or click the button
at the right to have us contact you.
Information collected from mayoclinic.com
Lupus is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's cells and tissue,
resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. The condition can affect any part of the body most often the heart, joints,
skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods
of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions. The disease occurs nine times more often in women than in men,
especially in women in child-bearing years, and is more common in those also of non-European descent.
Systemic lupus is the most common form of lupus and affects different organs. Some of the more serious
complications involving major organ systems include: kidneys, lungs, nervous system and brain. Cutaneous Lupus
refers to the skin and includes many types of rashes over the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose. Other rashes
may appear on the face, neck, scalp (areas of the skin that are exposed to sunlight), mouth, nose or vagina. At the
same time, it can produce hair loss and changes in the color of the skin. Another kind of lupus is the Drug-induced
Lupus that is caused by certain prescription drugs. Neonatal lupus is a rare condition that affects infants of women
who have lupus and is caused by antibodies from the mother acting upon the infant in the womb.
Symptoms
Common initial and chronic complaints include fever, discomfort, joint pains, muscle pain, fatigue, and temporary loss
of cognitive abilities. Some may exhibit dermatological manifestations and lesions on the skin with thick and red
patches as well as mouth, nasal and vaginal ulcers. Musculoskeletal symptoms include joint pain, with the small joints
of the hand and wrist usually affected, although all joints are at risk. Anemia may develop in some patients due to low
platelet and white blood cell counts. Inflammation in parts of the heart, lungs and kidneys can occur. Severe damage to
the epithelial cells of the blood-brain barrier produce neuropsychiatric conditions as headaches, cognitive dysfunctions,
mood disorders, cerebrovascular diseases, seizures, anxiety disorders, and psychosis. The main symptoms include:
- 1. Pleuritis (inflammation of the membrane around the lungs) or pericarditis (inflammation of the membrane
around the heart)
2. Oral ulcers
3. Arthritis
4. Photosensitivity (exposure to ultraviolet light causes rash)
5. Blood-hemolytic anemia (low red blood cell count) or leukopenia (white blood cell count)
6. Renal disorder
7. Antinuclear antibody test positive
8. Immunologic disorder
9. Neurologic disorder: Seizures or psychosis
10. Malar rash (rash on cheeks)
11. Discoid rash
The exact mechanisms for the development of this condition are still unclear, since the pathogenesis is a multifactor
event. There is no one specific cause for this condition; however a number of genetic susceptibilities and
environmental factors can trigger the disease. The first mechanism may arise genetically; research indicates that may
be a genetic link. Multiple genes appear to influence a person's chance of developing the condition when triggered by
environmental factors. The environmental factors may include: medications (antidepressants or antibiotics), stress,
sunlight, hormones or infections.
Western Medicine Treatment
Because lupus can cause damage to any part of the body, different specialists may be necessary to treat the condition,
such as a cardiologist, who specializes in heart problems, dermatologist, who specializes in diseases that affect the
skin, neurologist, who specializes in problems that affect the brain and nervous system, or a primatologist, who
specializes in high-risk pregnancies.
This condition is treatable through addressing its symptoms with medications such as anti-malarial drugs,
corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. The treatment involves preventing flares and reducing their severity and
duration of the symptoms. In more severe cases, medications that modulate the immune system (corticosteroids and
immunosuppressants) may be used to control the disease and prevent recurrence of symptoms. Since a large
percentage of people with the disease suffer from varying amounts of chronic pain, stronger prescription analgesics
may be used if other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications do not provide effective relief. Intravenous
immunoglobulins may be used to reduce antibody production and promote the clearance of immune complexes from
the body. Renal transplants are the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease, which is one of the complications
of lupus nephritis. Avoiding sunlight is another factor to reduce the onset of the disease, as sunlight is known to
exacerbate the disease.
Alternative Medicine
There is a significant progress using alternative medicine in this area.
If you want a referral of an expert alternative medicine practitioner in your
local area, please use our free referral service by calling our toll-free at
1-888-919-1188, or e-mail us to wei@weilab.com, or click the button
at the right to have us contact you.
Information collected from mayoclinic.com
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