Who was going to tell us that one of the most successful series in the history of television could present to society a disease that most people had no idea existed.
The series of Doctor House achieved it, which had 8 seasons (from 2004 to 2012) of enormous success, to the point that in 2008 it became the most watched in the world with almost 82 million viewers in more than 70 countries.
And when in one of the chapters of that series they said for the first time the name of a disease unknown to many of the viewers, lupus, most thought that it was an invention of the writers.
But it was something very real. Lupus is an immune disease that constitutes a real problem for the 75,000 Spaniards who suffer from it, mostly very young people .
Systemic lupus erythematosus.
Its full name is systemic lupus erythematosus. And if under 16 suffer from it, the word ‘juvenile’ is added.
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The term “lupus” which means wolf in Latin, refers to the fact that the disease produces a butterfly-shaped rash on the face that evokes the face of a wolf.
- “erythematous” which means red in Greek, and refers to the redness of skin lesions.
- “systemic” it is because lupus can affect various parts of the body, especially to the skin, joints, blood, heart and kidneys.
But mostly, as explained by , half of the patients with lupus have almost exclusive involvement of the skin and joints.
It is also a chronic inflammatory disease, that is, it produces inflammation of the affected organs or joints.
And although there is no cure, specialists insist that early detection and existing treatments are allowing a very high percentage of those affected to lead a practically normal life.
Systemic lupus erythematosus can appear at any time in life, both during childhood, adulthood or old age.
But professionals emphasize that this pathology mainly affects the young population, mostly women, with 40 percent of patients between 15 and 40 years of age.
Viruses, genetic and hormonal factors
Science has not yet been able to determine what causes lupus, although there are some theories.
As explained by the Rheumatology Society:
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“It is likely that the agent that triggers the disease is a virus, but at the same time a conjunction of factors is needed for the disease to appear.”
Among these factors, genetics are considered, as well as hormonal ones, because as we have already said, it is a much more frequent disease among women. So much so that the ratio is 1 case in men for every 9 in womenaccording to SER.
Non-specific symptoms
The early diagnosis of these diseases is essential for the quality of life of the people who suffer from them.
As he explains Dr. José María Álvaro-Gracia. President of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology (SER) and
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“Initially, most systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases have very non-specific symptoms, so they are difficult to identify if you are not familiar with them.”
Consequently:
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“The diagnosis can be delayed by detecting the disease in an advanced state. When it has already caused organic damage that is difficult to reverse.
In addition, the first symptoms, “which are often subtle”, they usually affect the musculoskeletal system and the functional motor capacity of the patienttogether with signs of affectation of the general state such as fatigue or even fever, associated with possible analytical alterations.
These symptomatic peculiarities make it necessary to know the most common signs of this disease and thus make an early diagnosis. Among these signs rheumatologists point out:
General symptoms:
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easy tiredness
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Unexplained weight loss.
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Prolonged fever that is not due to any infectious process.
Joint and muscle symptoms:
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90% of lupus patients have joint pain and swelling, especially in the fingers, wrists, elbows, knees, and toes.
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Stiffness in the joints after a night’s rest.
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Difficulty moving the joints and is only achieved after a while and after performing various exercises.
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Joint deformation.
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Muscular pains in the arms, legs, etc.
Skin symptoms:
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Although it is not as frequent as one might think, the best known symptom at the skin level is the so-called «butterfly wing rash», or redness and skin rash on the cheeks and nose.
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Hair fall.
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High skin sensitivity. Patients are very sensitive to ultraviolet rays (photosensitivity).
Symptoms in the organs:
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When lupus affects the heart and lungs, it inflames the lining of the heart and lungs, causing chest pain and fever.
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In the kidney, lupus causes nephritis (inflammation of the kidneys) causing swelling in the face and legs, or hypertension.
The treatment to follow when the disease appears will depend on the specific needs and symptoms of each patient. Depending on these two variables, specialists will opt for the use of anti-inflammatories, corticosteroids, antimalarials, immunosuppressants, among others.