Everything you need to know: Lupus

The general prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in India is reported as 3.2 per 100,000 people, but specific data on different types of lupus within India is limited. Studies on SLE in India have focused primarily on the overall disease prevalence and its clinical features.

Research shows that India's loop care faces challenges related to access, cost and awareness. Specifically, limited access to professional rheumatologists, financial burdens, and inadequate insurance contributes to diagnostic and management difficulties. Furthermore, stigma associated with chronic diseases may be associated with a lack of awareness among healthcare providers and the public.

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a long-term, progressive autoimmune disease in which the immune system accidentally attacks healthy tissues throughout the body.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lupus can affect any part of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain. World Health Organization (WH) Note The lupus involves chronic stimulation of the immune system, and the exact cause remains unknown. RancetI'll explain it Lupus as a multibody autoimmune disease marked by the presence of autoantibodies against nuclear antigens, deposition of immune complexes, and the presence of autoantibodies against chronic inflammation – affecting classical target organs, primarily the skin, joints, and kidneys

Lupus comes in several forms, and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common and serious type. Other forms include lupus lupus lupus erythematosus (CLE) in the skin, which primarily affects the skin. Within CLE there are subtypes such as discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), which is characterized by circular lesions, and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE), which often presents with rashes and joint pain. Drug-induced lupus can occur as a side effect of certain drugs, but neonatal lupus affects neonatals.

What are the signs and symptoms?

Lupus signs and symptoms are broad and unpredictable.

It is a very diverse disease. This means that symptoms, severity, and how the disease progresses can vary widely from person to person.

As reported in the CDC, the most common symptoms are extreme fatigue, which can have a significant impact on physical and mental health. Other frequent symptoms include pain and swelling in the joints and muscles, fever, hair loss, frequent mouth pain, and a characteristic butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose.

Less common but important symptoms can involve chest pain during deep breathing, increased sensitivity to sunlight, changes in cognitive and mental health, eye damage, complications of important organs such as the heart, lungs, and kidneys.

The WHO emphasizes that variability in affected organs may reflect different underlying immune pathways supported by different autoantibody profiles. These symptoms tend to occur in episodes called flares, and may then be followed by a period of remission, when the symptoms temporarily sink.

Who is at risk?

Anyone is at risk of being affected by lupus. However, certain groups are more vulnerable. Report with CDC Nature It emphasizes that it occurs mostly among women during adolescence and menopause, and is more common among African-American, Hispanic, Asian, and Indigenous individuals. It can occur at any age, but is most frequently diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45. It affects approximately 3.4 million people worldwide, with 400,000 new diagnoses being diagnosed every year.

The exact cause remains unknown, suggesting that genetic predispositions combined with hormonal and environmental triggers are likely to contribute to the development of the disease. Research also shows that the potential for development of SLE is thought to be related to genetic, epigenetic, environmental triggers, and hormonal factors. Differences in clinical patterns between patients suggest that multiple disease mechanisms are involved, and this condition is highly personalized.

What treatment options are?

Treatment of lupus aims to manage symptoms, prevent organ damage, maintain low-disease activity and achieve remission.

Rancet We outline current treatment approaches with personalized guidance from HeathCare experts. This starts with hydroxychloroquine as a baseline drug that is often supplemented with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants depending on the severity.

New therapies such as Belimumab, Anifrolumab and Voclosporin have been approved in recent years, improving outcomes in patients with lupus nephritis, a kidney disease caused by SLE. Alongside medications, non-pharmacological strategies are essential, such as lifestyle interventions, sunscreen, mental health support, and patient education to improve quality of life and treatment compliance.

The WHO points out that despite medical advances, there are still no universally reliable markers for diagnosis or disease activity, and access to new treatments remains globally unequal. The main goal of treatment is to suppress immune overactivity, manage flares and reduce long-term complications such as infections, osteoporosis, cardiovascular diseases caused by both disease and its treatment.