Home :: Skin Disorders :: Erythematosus

Signs and Symptoms Discoid Lupus Erythematosus Dle

Discoid lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disorder that affects many of the bodies systems, including skin, joints and internal organs. The condition is chronic and may grow to other areas of the body as the disease progresses.

The immune system of the body works to counteract all attackers that invade, thus making the body a castle in defense mode. This allows us to live without fear of many of the minor things that can occur in the world and maladies like the common cold can easily be fought off. With a autoimmune disorder like discoid lupus erythematosus, the immune system is turned against the body. This means that the body is no longer fighting outside attackers but instead attacking itself. This creates chronic disease such as discoid lupus erythematosus.

Causes

The exact cause of discoid lupus erythematosus has not yet been discovered. Some researchers believe that the root cause is an infection that has certain proteins that the body mistakes for disease and thus turning the immune system against itself. The search continues for an exact cause but there has been little if any advancement in recent years.

Age Group

Discoid lupus erythematosus is more common among women between the ages of 10 and 50. There are exceptions and it can occur at any age and in any sex. There are also certain types of drugs that have been known to cause this disease. However, the drug induced discoid lupus erythematosus can be reversed when the medication therapy ceases.

Symptoms

There are a good many symptoms associated with discoid lupus erythematosus and they can occur in various degrees of severity on a case by case basis.

• Fever
• Fatigue
• Weight Loss
• Skin Rash
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Joint pain
• Swollen glands
• Chest pain
• Seizures
• Psychosis
• Blood in the urine
• Coughing of blood
• Hair loss
• Mouth sores
• Visual disturbance

Treatment

There is no cure for standard onset discoid lupus erythematosus but the doctors treat each symptom to relieve patients. NSAIDS are commonly used to treat the pain and swelling that can occur. Creams are used to treat the skin manifestations and Antimalarial drugs also help the patients in their skin problems to find relief.

There are some occasions when the disease is life threatening as it begins to attack internal organs. These cases are not common but do occur. The treating physician will refer the patient to a specialist in the field for each organ for aggressive treatment.

Prognosis

With the development of new treatments, the outlook for patients suffering from discoid lupus erythematosus is brighter than it ever has been. The new rates for 10 year survival exceed 80% and those who have minor cases can expect to live long lives.

Women who have discoid lupus erythematosus can expect to carry the baby to full term and deliver a healthy infant. The doctors will monitor the baby and mother to ensure that no heart disease or lung malfunction occurs.

The prognosis is not so bright for those with severe discoid lupus erythematosus as the treatments that have been created work far better for the mild cases. Patients with severe cases find little relief in most cases and the survival rate has stayed fairly steady.

Complications

There are only a few complications that can set in with discoid lupus erythematosus. The worst being infection. With this disease the body is no longer capable of fighting off infection for itself. Thus medication is necessary for nearly all infections that can occur in the body. Even so much as a common cold can cause severe complications in patients and they should avoid coming into contact with ill persons.

Renal failure has presented in some cases where the antibodies of the system begin to attack the kidneys. This complication can prove deadly in many cases unless the patient is put into therapy at the first symptoms of renal failure.

Diagnosis

It is imperative to see your doctor immediately if you feel that you may have contracted Discoid – Lupus Erythematosus. The symptoms can be treated and the spread of the disease slowed if caught early enough. Be sure to tell your doctor all of the medications that you are taking to test if any of these is causing the presentation of symptoms.