What exactly is lupus erythematosus?

The incidence of lupus erythematosus in life is relatively high. This disease is an autoimmune system disease. Normally, antibody cells will only attack viruses and bacteria, but this disease will cause antibodies to attack normal cells in the body, causing serious damage.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that affects multiple systems and organs of the body, has complex clinical manifestations, and a protracted and recurrent course. Lupus erythematosus can be divided into two major categories: systemic lupus erythematosus and discoid lupus erythematosus. Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a skin disease between discoid lupus erythematosus and systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus erythematosus develops slowly and insidiously, and its clinical manifestations are diverse and changing. Discoid lupus erythematosus damages mainly local skin, while systemic lupus erythematosus often affects multiple organs and systems. About 70% to 85% of lupus patients have skin manifestations, so lupus has always been the focus of dermatology research.

Causes

(1) Genetic factors: Genetics is an important factor in the development of lupus. People with genetic factors for lupus will develop the disease once they encounter certain triggering conditions in the environment. According to a survey, blacks and Asians suffer from lupus more frequently than whites. The incidence of lupus in a family history can be as high as 5% to 12%. The incidence rate in identical twins is as high as 69%, while the incidence rate in fraternal twins is not much different from that in the same family group.

(2) Infection factors: Inclusion bodies and inclusion-like substances are found in the glomerular endothelial cells and skin lesions of SLE patients, and antiviral antibodies in the serum are increased. Type C virus (lentivirus) can be isolated from the tissues of the SLE animal model NZB/NZW mice, and antibodies to type C virus-related antigens can be detected in the glomeruli. Some people believe that it is related to streptococcal or tuberculosis infection, but this has not been confirmed in patients.

(3) Endocrine factors: Lupus erythematosus often occurs in women of childbearing age, and there is almost no gender difference in children and elderly patients. Male patients with testicular dysgenesis often develop lupus erythematosus, and both male and female lupus patients have increased levels of estrone hydroxylation products. In the SLE animal model NZB/N ZW mice, female mice have more severe symptoms than male mice. Treatment with androgens can alleviate the disease, while treatment with estrogens can worsen the disease, suggesting that estrogen plays a role in the onset of the disease.

(4) Environmental factors Environmental factors are factors that directly induce lupus erythematosus, including physical and chemical aspects. Physical factors such as ultraviolet radiation and chemical factors such as drugs. Some drugs can cause drug-induced lupus and aggravate lupus erythematosus.

(5) Other factors in daily life, such as improper diet, eating shrimp, crab, leek, celery, mushroom, fig and some legumes, living in a newly renovated house, dyeing hair, etc. can induce lupus erythematosus.