什么是systemic lupus erythematosus？
Theimmune systemnormally fights off dangerous infections and bacteria to keep the body healthy. Anautoimmune diseaseoccurs when the immune system attacks the body because it confuses it for something foreign. There are many autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
The term lupus has been used to identify a number of immune diseases that have similar clinical presentations and laboratory features, but SLE is the most common type of狼疮。当他们说狼疮时，人们往往是指SLE。
SLE is a chronic disease that can have phases of worsening symptoms that alternate with periods of mild symptoms. Most people with SLE are able to live a normal life with treatment.
根据美国红斑狼疮基金会,在least150万Americans are living with diagnosed lupus. The foundation believes that the number of people who actually have the condition is much higher and that many cases go undiagnosed.
症状可能会有所不同，可以随时间变化。常见的症状包括：
- severe fatigue
- 关节痛
- joint swelling
- head
- a皮疹on the cheeks and nose, which is called a “butterfly rash”
- 脱发
- 贫血
- 血凝凝血问题
- fingers turning white or blue and tingling when cold, which is known as雷诺的现象
其他症状依赖于身体的部分疾病正在攻击，如消化道, the心或皮肤。
狼疮symptoms are also symptoms of many other diseases, which makes diagnosis tricky. If you have any of these symptoms, see your doctor. Your doctor can run tests to gather the information needed to make an accurate diagnosis.
SLE的确切原因尚不清楚，但有几个因素与这种疾病有关。
Genetics
The disease isn’t linked to a certain gene, but people with lupus often have family members with other autoimmune conditions.
环境
环境触发器可以包括：
Sex and hormones
SLE affects women more than men. Women also may experience more severe symptoms during pregnancy and with their menstrual periods. Both of these observations have led some medical professionals to believe that the female hormoneestrogenmay play a role in causing SLE. However, more research is still needed to prove this theory.
Your doctor will do a physical exam to check for typical signs and symptoms of lupus, including:
- 阳光敏感性皮疹，如颧骨或蝴蝶皮疹
- mucous membrane溃疡, which may occur in the mouth or nose
- 关节炎, which is swelling or tenderness of the small joints of the hands, feet, knees, and wrists
- 脱发
- 发瘦
- signs of cardiac or lung involvement, such asmur，摩擦或不规则的心跳
没有一个单一测试是SLE的诊断，但可以帮助您的医生来到明智的诊断的筛查包括：
您的医生可能会将您推荐给风湿病学，这是一位专门治疗关节和软组织疾病和自身免疫疾病的医生。
No cure for SLE exists. The goal of treatment is to ease symptoms. Treatment can vary depending on how severe your symptoms are and which parts of your body SLE affects. The treatments may include:
- anti-inflammatory medications用于关节疼痛和刚度，如these options available online
- steroid creams for rashes
- corticosteroids to minimize the immune response
- antimalarial皮肤和联合问题的药物
- 疾病改性药物或靶向免疫系统剂以进行更严重的病例
与您的医生讨论您的饮食和生活习惯。您的医生可能会建议进食或避免某些食物，并尽量减少压力，以降低触发症状的可能性。您可能需要进行筛选骨质疏松症since steroids can thin your bones. Your doctor may also recommend preventive care, such as immunizations that are safe for people with autoimmune diseases and cardiac screenings,
随着时间的推移，SLE可能会损坏或导致整个体系中的并发症。可能的并发症可能包括：
- 血液凝块和血管炎症或vasculitis
- 心脏炎症，或心包炎
- a心脏病发作
- a中风
- memory changes
- behavioral changes
- seizures
- inflammation of lung tissue and the lining of the lung, orpleuritis
- kidney inflammation
- decreased kidney function
- kidney failure
在怀孕期间，SLE对身体产生严重的负面影响。它可以导致妊娠并发症甚至流产。与您的医生交谈，了解降低并发症风险的方法。
SLE不同地影响人们。当您在症状开发后尽快开始时，治疗最有效，当您的医生裁定给您时，当您的医生裁定到您身上。如果您培养任何关注您的症状，您将预约与医生预约。如果您还没有提供者，我们Healthline FindCare toolcan help you connect to physicians in your area.
患有慢性病的生活可能很困难。与您的医生讨论您所在地区的支持小组。使用培训的顾问或支持小组可以帮助您减轻压力，保持积极的心理健康，并管理您的疾病。