For some experts, lupus is one of the most characteristic autoimmune diseases that exist, as it can give any type of symptomatology and affect – and manifest itself – in any part of the body : from joints to the skin, passing through the kidneys or the nervous system . This variety also makes it “more complex for diagnosis”, as indicated by Ricard Cervera, Head of the Autoimmune Diseases Service at Hospital Clínic, Barcelona.
The explanation of its name is more precise: due to some very characteristic reddish marks that most of the time appear on the skin, and that are reminiscent of a wolf bite . In addition, these lesions are accompanied by internal organ involvement , hence the official name is systemic lupus erythematosus. Another of the most characteristic features of lupus is that it affects one sex much more than another: we are talking about ten women for every man . It is a disease that, in addition, is usually diagnosed during the reproductive season , which in the words of Dr. Cervera, is “one of the problems with this disease is the influence of female sex hormones.” In Spain, it could affect nine per 10,000 inhabitants.
Along with the striking marks, patients with lupus also usually present very characteristic antibodies, anti-DNA – although this does not always happen – and it is what makes doctors not know, sometimes, from the beginning that they are facing a patient with this ailment. Finally, lupus is characterized by its high genetic component : “It is a disease in which many times there are other members of the family who have this ailment or other autoimmune ones,” says Dr. Cervera.
As for how it is fought, the basic but fundamental thing is to avoid the sun, hormonal treatments and stress . Second, doctors prescribe hydroxychloroquine , a drug used to treat malaria or malaria that has a beneficial effect on the immune system; Today, in fact, it is “the basis of treatment for practically all patients,” says Dr. Cervera. Finally, the doctor indicates that if outbreaks, injuries or damages appear, “we must tighten the treatment more” and use immunosuppressants, such as the famous corticosteroids .
The greatest challenge of lupus is, according to the doctor, “to know even better how this disease occurs in order to have better medications” , although in recent years much progress has been made thanks to the introduction of so-called biological treatments or biological therapies – drugs of the latest generation that are specifically directed at molecules of this immune system—, which have been a new therapeutic route for very serious cases. However, doctors are ambitious, and they aspire not only to effectively treat as many people as possible, but to achieve “the treatment that achieves the definitive cure of the disease”, although there is still a long way to go.
