Frequently Asked Questions About Lupus

How is Lupus Diagnosed?

Diagnosing lupus can be challenging, symptoms can vary in presentation and severity from individual to individual, and some of the symptoms are non-specific. If characteristic symptoms are found, the doctor may perform a few tests to confirm the diagnosis. It can sometimes take patience to reach the right diagnosis.

What are some of the difficulties with diagnosis?

Discoid lupus specifically presents a challenge. This can mimic many other skin conditions such as fungal infection, psoriasis, or other skin conditions like polymorphous light eruption. Relatively occurrence rate is also an issue.

Relatively rare conditions like lupus are often not considered until the more likely or common explanation is eliminated first. Thus, if the symptoms are non-specific, it can take some time until the doctor finds the right tests to confirm diagnosis.

What causes lupus erythematosus?

The presentations on the skin are caused by T lymphocytes which are important immune cells that trigger inflammation. Lupus is considered to be a series of autoimmune diseases in which the immune system attacks healthy cells by being triggered incorrectly. Some people are genetically predisposed to this condition.

It is thought that sun exposure may be an important environmental factor for triggering lupus.

Do drugs cause cutaneous lupus erythematosus?

Certain medications can cause sub-acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. Medication can also worsen existing disease. These cases are rare, which is fortunate, but they are also unpredictable for that reason, and a causal relationship isn't established-only a correlation.

Drugs that are thought to sometimes cause or worsen cutaneous lupus erythematosus include dieretics, certain anti-inflammatory drugs, and blood pressure medications like dilitiazem. If drug use is suspected to be a trigger, immediate discontinuation will be advised by a doctor.

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