[Financial News] If you feel tired without reason and suddenly develop red butterfly-shaped rashes on both cheeks, it could be a rare disease called lupus, not a skin condition. Lupus is a chronic disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues, causing inflammation in various organs.
Professor Jeong Seong-su of the Rheumatology Department at Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital stated on the 22nd, "Recently, the prevalence of lupus in Korea has been increasing," and warned, "If the immune system attacks major organs, it can lead to fatal complications, so caution is necessary."
It is estimated that approximately 10,000 to 25,000 people in the country suffer from lupus. It mainly occurs in women aged 15 to 45, with women showing about nine times higher incidence than men.
The most common form of lupus is systemic lupus erythematosus. It causes unexplained fatigue and fever, and may present with joint swelling and pain, as well as butterfly-shaped skin rashes on both cheeks. Damage to various organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain can lead to serious complications including kidney failure, heart disease like coronary artery disease, respiratory complications such as pneumonia, anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, stroke, and even death. It is known that about 50% of lupus patients experience kidney-related complications such as lupus nephritis.
The exact cause of lupus has not yet been identified, but it is known to result from a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. It is more common in women, and symptoms of lupus can worsen during periods of hormonal change such as pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. Environmental factors include excessive exposure to sunlight, infection with certain viruses or bacteria such as Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), and exposure to certain medications, which can trigger or exacerbate lupus. An imbalance in the microbiota of the gastrointestinal tract, which constitutes most of the body's immune system, is also considered a major contributing factor.
To diagnose lupus, clinical symptoms and various test results must be considered comprehensively. If four or more of the 11 diagnostic criteria proposed by the American Rheumatism Association are met, lupus is diagnosed. The main criteria include butterfly rash, discoid rash, photosensitivity, oral ulcers, arthritis, serositis, kidney disease, neurological disease, hematologic disorder, immunologic disorder, and antinuclear antibodies.
Lupus treatment is tailored according to the patient's symptoms, disease severity, and affected organs. It mainly involves symptomatic treatment and therapies to suppress disease progression. Pharmacological treatments include various medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, antimalarials, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressants, and recently, new treatments like JAK inhibitors and interferon antibodies are also being used.
Professor Jeong said, "It is known that women with lupus have an increased risk of complications during pregnancy. However, with proper management and treatment, including pre-pregnancy counseling and planning, regular monitoring, and medication management, they can have a healthy pregnancy and childbirth."
To manage the daily life of lupus patients, a healthy diet, regular exercise, sufficient rest and sleep, stress management, UV protection, smoking cessation and alcohol moderation, and regular medical consultations and check-ups are recommended. Maintaining muscle strength and reducing fatigue should be achieved through light aerobic and low-intensity strength exercises. It is advisable to reduce the intake of processed foods, flour-based foods, dairy products, foods high in simple sugars, fast food, and salty foods, and to consume vegetables, fish, and whole grains.
Professor Jeong stated, "Lupus is currently difficult to cure completely, but it can be effectively managed through medication, lifestyle improvements, regular monitoring, and effective treatment plans." He particularly mentioned that the recent 5-year survival rate for systemic lupus erythematosus is approximately 90-95%.
