Tired and red butterfly-shaped "lupus" on both cheeks

If you're tired and have a red butterfly-shaped rash on your cheeks, suspect 'this'

 

A rare disease where the immune system attacks itself

Suspected lupus

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.

Unexplained fatigue and fever may occur, along with joint swelling and pain, and butterfly-shaped skin rashes on both cheeks. Damage to various organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain can lead to complications like renal failure, heart disease such as coronary artery disease, respiratory complications like pneumonia, and severe complications including anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, stroke, and even death. It is known that approximately 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 one of the major causes.

 

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," adding, "In particular, the recent 5-year survival rate for systemic lupus erythematosus is about 90-95%."