Cindy - Lupus and light therapy

[Guest guest]

- Guess what!!! I didn't delete the information on light therapy. This was posted last week or the week before by one of our group members. I am sending it as an attachment.

Hugs - a B

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Lighting Up Lupus

BACKGROUND: Lupus is an autoimmune disorder that affects anywhere from

100,000 to more than 1 million Americans. With lupus, the body attacks its

own cells and tissues after blocking antibodies that normally protect

against viruses and bacteria. The disease can affect the joints, kidneys,

heart, lungs, brain, blood and skin. Although it can affect men and women

of all ages, adult females are 10- to 15-times more likely to be infected

with the disease. Lupus is also more prevalent in minorities. It is two-

to three-times more common among blacks, Hispanics, Asians and Native

Americans. Researchers are not sure what causes lupus but say it is not an

infectious disease. Symptoms often mimic other less serious illnesses,

which make lupus difficult to diagnose. Some symptoms include achy joints,

extreme fatigue, skin rashes, kidney problems, anemia and frequent fevers.

Although the disease can affect any part of the body, most people

experience symptoms in only a few organs.

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS: Doctors have traditionally treated lupus patients

with a vast array of medications and therapies. Treatment approaches often

depend on the specific needs of the patient because the disease's effects

may vary significantly among individuals. Some common conventional

treatments for lupus include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs,

acetaminophen, corticosteroids, antimalarials, and immunomodulating

medications. Doctors say 80 percent to 90 percent of patients with lupus

will live a normal lifespan with current methods of therapy.

NEW WAY TO TREAT LUPUS: Doctors from Louisiana State University are using

Ultraviolet A-1 light therapy to treat patients with lupus. The new

therapy uses the long wavelengths in light to target the disabling

symptoms of the disease. These long wavelengths can reduce fatigue, help

joint pain, and improve sensitivity to the sun. Natural ultraviolet light

that comes from the sun contains long and short wavelengths. The short

wavelengths can aggravate lupus symptoms. When lupus patients are exposed

only to the longer wavelengths, Hugh McGrath, M.D., from LSU, says there

is actually a reparative effect. He says patients treated with this

therapy, " have fewer headaches and they have fewer other signs and

symptoms. They begin to concentrate better. " This specific light also

helps increase the number of antibodies in lupus patients, which

strengthens their immune systems and allows them to fight off viruses and

bacteria. Patients who wish to undergo this treatment typically receive

therapy three times a week, and treatments last between 20 and 30 minutes.

Doctors say UVA-1 therapy should be used for an extended period of time.

For some patients, progress is measured by a PET-scan, which tests the

function and uptake of sugar in the brain. A PET-scan can give doctors a

good idea about how a lupus patient's brain is progressing.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Sheila Mason, LPN

Tulane/LSU General Clinical

Research Center Charity Hospital

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