"The most beautiful Zhou Zhiruo" Zhou Haimei passed away! Doctor: "Lupus erythematosus" causes systemic comorbidities and the mortality rate increases by 2.6 times
It was reported that Hong Kong actress Chow Hoi-mei passed away on December 12 at the age of 57. Chow Hoi-mei’s friends said that she had suffered from “lupus erythematosus”. Although unproven, lupus disease may have a serious impact on a patient’s life. Dr. Ye Qianyu, director of the Han Disease Prevention and Treatment Department at Losheng Sanatorium, pointed out that lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease that is neither an infectious disease nor a malignant tumor. The body’s immune system normally functions to protect itself from foreign invading substances, but people with lupus have an excess of specialized antibodies in their blood, causing the immune system to become abnormal and attack the patient’s normal tissues.
Are the symptoms of lupus erythematosus more than just rash? Are smoking and sun exposure potential risk factors?
The real cause of lupus erythematosus is still unclear, but genetic and environmental factors are currently believed to be potential causes. Certain genes play a role in the development of the disease, and these genes may influence the immune system’s protein instructions. Exposure to certain factors in the environment, such as viral infections, sunlight, medications, and smoking, may also be risk factors for lupus.
In addition, if there is inflammation in the body, it may also be a causative factor. If the body is unable to properly clear away damaged or dead cells due to inflammation, it may cause the immune system to continuously attack its own cells, causing an autoimmune reaction and leading to lupus.
Dr. Ye Qianyu said that if there is no proper tracking and treatment, the whole body may eventually fail and die, so it is called “immortal cancer” by the outside world. Lupus erythematosus most commonly affects women between the ages of 20 and 40. Symptoms vary from person to person and include arthritis, Raynaud’s disease, swollen glands, eye or leg swelling, loss of appetite, tiredness, chills, fever, oral Mucosal ulcers, etc.; erythema is the most typical symptom, and patients are prone to erythema and butterfly spots on the face, neck, arms, etc.
Lupus erythematosus causes systemic comorbidities, medical warning: fatality rate may increase by 2.6 times
Since the autoimmune system may also attack different organs, it is also prone to many comorbidities such as bone and joint lesions, blood system abnormalities, kidney and cardiovascular diseases, and the mortality rate is 2.6 times that of the average person. Even worse, lupus erythematosus can cause inflammation throughout the body, which can lead to organ problems, including:
Kidney. Kidney damage may lead to changes in kidney function, including kidney failure. This is called lupus nephritis.
Brain/nerve center. Changes in the brain and central nervous system that may lead to seizures and memory problems.
Cardiovascular. Such as heart valve damage, pericarditis, myocarditis, vasculitis, reduced number of blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets), atherosclerosis or coronary heart disease.
Lungs. It causes inflammation of the tissue around the lungs, causing breathing pain, which is called “pleurisy.”
Dr. Ye Qianyu reminded that although lupus erythematosus cannot be cured through treatment at this stage, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, immunosuppressants, and biological agents can be used to stabilize the condition. Patients should also take calcium supplements on weekdays, pay attention to sun protection, stop smoking, avoid excessive supplementation, keep their emotions stable, reduce stressful environments, exercise appropriately, and get enough rest to enhance their immune system; if they have fever, joint and muscle pain, weakness, etc., it is recommended to go to The hospital will conduct a detailed examination and inform the doctor if there is any family history.
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