Systemic Lupus complications

Systemic Lupus is an autoimmune disease with multi-organ involvement by small vessel vasculopathy. Small vessel inflammation is caused by the depot of immune complexes on the walls of the vessels. Patients suffering Systemic Lupus are frequently affected by health issues related to gastrointestinal tract, almost 40% of the patients on which Systemic Lupus is on its active stage are affected by nonspecific gastrointestinal discomfort.

If patient affected by Systemic Lupus is receiving an appropriate treatment and medicines are being taken as prescribed by the physician, no complications should emerge. But most of the complications are consequence of late detection of lupus.

In cases on which a gastrointestinal condition such as lupus enteritis early diagnosis and treatment are of capital importance in order to prevent complications such as necrosis, hemorrhage or bowel perforation, these conditions are responsible for the death of at least 50% of patients affected by lupus.

Nonspecific abdominal symptomatology is very common on Systemic Lupus; signs such as nausea, anorexia or vomiting are very frequent on at least thirty percent of the patients, being abdominal pain the most frequent sign.

Lupus Enteritis or Vasculitis is a terrible complication of Systemic Lupus, patients on which lupus is active may present this health problem; the appearance of Vasculitis is associated with thrombocytopenia which is a condition that involves skin and nervous system.

There are hypotheses concerning possible predisposing factors and causes such as bacterial infections responsible for changes on intestinal flora, infections caused by cytomegalovirus, certain medications, eosinophilia and animal viruses among others.

If systemic lupus reaches a severe state it could bring complications such as ulceration, bleeding or even perforations which may lead to death. Information provided by Ultrasound and CT of the abdomen is valuable in order to detect symptoms associated to systemic lupus that may be affecting digestive system like hepatosplenomegaly, acute pancreatitis and retroperitoneal lymphadenopathy.

Another complication caused by lupus is known as nephritis and it affects the kidneys. Approximately 3 of each 10000 patients with lupus are affected by nephritis, there are symptoms that are characteristic for this disease, and among them we can find urine with blood, urine with foamy appearance, high blood pressure and swelling on any part of the body. It this condition is detected right on time kidneys performance can be improved thus preventing renal failure.

Corticosteroids and drugs such as mycophenolate mofetil, cyclophosphamide and azathioprine which suppress the immune system functions are indicated for the treatment of nephritis. If the disease has progressed too much dialysis may be required to control the symptoms of renal failure.

Thrombocytopenia is another complication caused by systemic lupus; this disease is characterized by coagulation problems caused by a lack of platelets. Hemolytic Anemia is a condition associated to systemic lupus and emerges when immune system begins to destroy red blood cells considering them foreign elements. Pericarditis which consists on the pericardium inflammation could bring the impression of a fake heart attack, and it is another health condition associated to systemic lupus.