Serious Conditions Associated with Lupus

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Serious Conditions Associated with

Lupus

from

Lupus : A Patient Care Guide

Although

lupus can be well controlled in many people, serious medical conditions caused

by or associated with the disease can still occur. It is important that you

know about these conditions and how they may make you feel so that you can call

your doctor right away. The sooner a problem is detected and evaluated, the

sooner it can be treated to prevent or reduce damage to your body’s

organs.

Kidney disease: Many people with lupus

develop some form of mild kidney disease. Others, however, develop kidney

disease serious enough to lead to kidney failure. Warning signs include:

·

swelling around your ankles,

hands, and eyes;

·

increased fatigue or tiredness,

especially if you have not altered your rest and activity patterns; and

·

increased

need to urinate at night.

Pericarditis: Pericarditis is

an inflammation of the thin sac that surrounds the heart. Warning signs

include:

·

chest pain,

·

shortness of breath, and

·

new or

higher-than-usual fever.

Myocarditis: Myocarditis is

an inflammation of the heart muscle. Warning signs include:

·

chest pain,

·

shortness of breath, and

·

new or

higher-than-usual fever.

Atherosclerosis: This is a condition in

which fatty deposits build up on the inside of arteries. These deposits can

reduce or block blood flow. A blockage or reduced blood flow through an artery

that supplies the heart can cause a heart attack to occur. Warning signs

include:

·

burning, choking, squeezing, or

pressing chest pain felt in the center of the chest that may radiate to the left

shoulder and arm (anginal pain); it can last up to 5

minutes and will become much less intense or go away completely if you rest;

·

crushing, prolonged chest pain

that is not relieved by rest;

·

shortness of breath;

·

unrelieved indigestion; and

·

a weak or

faint feeling.

Pleuritis: Pleuritis is an

inflammation of the lining of the lung. Warning signs include:

·

shortness of breath, and

·

chest

pain, especially when taking a deep breath.

Central nervous system (CNS) disease: CNS

disease covers a variety of problems that may or may not be related to lupus.

Problems can include seizures, memory loss, headache, confusion, hearing and

visual changes, muscle weakness, depression, and emotional disturbances.

Because many of these problems can be related to use of medications or indicate

other conditions, it is often difficult to make a definite diagnosis of CNS

disease. Warning signs include:

·

severe or chronic headaches;

·

seizures;

·

periods of forgetfulness,

restlessness, or confusion;

·

new or increased hearing and vision

problems;

·

bizarre or erratic changes in

behavior;

·

mood swings; and

·

signs of

a stroke, including weakness or numbness in the arms, legs, face, or down one

side of the body; a change in speech; confusion; or severe headaches.

Depression: With depression, people may

feel helpless, hopeless, or overwhelmed. They may find it difficult to get

through the day. Depression can occur as a result of lupus or be caused by the

drugs used to treat it, especially cortico-steroids.

Warning signs include:

·

depressed mood;

·

significant weight loss or gain;

·

trouble sleeping or sleeping too

much;

·

extreme tiredness and lack of

energy;

·

decreased concentration or an

inability to make a decision;

·

feelings of being overwhelmed and

unable to carry out simple tasks, such as personal hygiene, housework, or

childcare;

·

feelings of hopelessness about

various aspects of life;

·

unusual anger or irritability; and

·

recurrent

thoughts of death and suicide.

Osteonecrosis: This is a condition that usually affects

the hip joint, but may occur in other joints such as the knees, ankles, or

shoulders. Blood supply to the hip is reduced and, over time, leads to severe

degenerative arthritis. Osteonecrosis is considered

to be a side effect of corticosteroid therapy and not a manifestation of SLE

itself. Warning signs include:

·

sharp pain in the groin or

buttocks that may radiate down the back of the leg,

·

decreased exercise tolerance,

·

stiffness of the hips, and

·

increased

pain and difficulty in walking after exercise.

Pancreatitis: In pancreatitis,

the pancreas (an organ involved in digestion and in producing hormones that

regulate blood sugar levels) becomes inflamed. It is a very serious problem

that must be treated immediately. Warning signs include:

·

sharp, intense pain at the level

of the belly button that radiates around to the back;

·

nausea and vomiting; and

·

new or

higher-than-usual fever.

Acute abdomen: This is a condition that

describes the sudden onset of abdominal pain. A variety of serious problems can

cause this condition. You should see your doctor immediately if you develop

acute abdomen. Warning signs include:

·

abdominal pain that may be severe

and radiate throughout the abdominal area;

·

nausea, vomiting, or loss of

appetite;

·

change in usual bowel movements;

and

·

vomiting

blood or blood in the stool.

Vision problems: Changes in vision can be a

result of lupus or because of the corticosteroids and antimalarials

used to treat lupus. Problems can include inflammation of the eye, glaucoma,

cataracts, general changes in vision, and blocked tear ducts. On very rare

occasions, blindness can result. Warning signs include:

·

development of a rash over the

eyelids;

·

mucus discharge from the eye;

·

blurred vision;

·

sensitivity to light;

·

headaches;

·

a sore, red eye;

·

lack of tears, and eyes that hurt

and are dry; and

·

episodes

of flashing lights and partial blindness.

Hugs,

Deanna