2023-05-09 08:53:43
Lupus is a rare autoimmune disease that affects between 20,000 and 40,000 people in France according to estimates. Nicknamed the “disease with 1000 faces” because of the many clinical forms found, this pathology is particularly debilitating. May 10 is marked by World Lupus Day, an opportunity to raise awareness among as many people as possible regarding this often little-known pathology.
May 10 has been designated World Lupus Day since 2004.
The world lupus day has been organized every May 10 since 2004, with the aim of raising public awareness of this autoimmune disease, rare more very disabling. It is also an opportunity to mobilize national and international players on the need to support research efforts to better understand this disease and develop effective treatments to improve the quality of life of patients.
For World Lupus Day, World Lupus Federation (World Lupus Federation) provides a toolkit for anyone who wants to help raise awareness regarding lupus. Everyone will be able to share their lupus story and post on social media using hashtags #WorldLupusDay et #MakeLupusVisible. Nicknamed the ” sickness with 1000 faces “, lupus affects the immune system, which attacks the body’s own cells to destroy them. If there are only cutaneous forms, lupus can affect many parts of the body and manifest itself in many ways, making its diagnosis sometimes complex.
Lupus, the “disease with 1000 faces”
Lupus also goes by many names, such as systemic lupus erythematosus (LED), the systemic lupus erythematosus (THE) or the systemic lupus (LS). All patients presented with cutaneous involvement, with a skin rash characteristic in the form of face mask. This is also where the disease gets its name, ” lupus of wolf in Latin. But skin involvement is often not isolated, and is accompanied by involvement of other body organs, which vary greatly from one patient to another: the skin, the joints, the heart (in particular the pericardium), kidneys, nervous system, lungs, etc.
Lupus is also associated with biological abnormalities, with the disruption of several blood tests. Also found in the blood of patients are antibodies called autoantibodies directed once morest the DNA of the cell nucleus (antinuclear antibodies). Lupus is a disease that mainly affects women (90% of cases) and generally begins in early adulthood, with a peak in frequency around the thirties. In France, not all regions are equally affected by lupus, the prevalence in the French West Indies being more than doubled compared to the prevalence in mainland France.
Lupus, a multifactorial origin and no definitive treatment to date
Why does the immune system suddenly attack its own constituents? For the moment, the precise causes of lupus remain unknown, but factors favoring the occurrence of this autoimmune disease have been identified:
- Of the hormonal factorswhich explain that women of childbearing age are the most affected;
- A genetic predispositionwith familial forms of lupus;
- The taking certain medicationsin particular anticonvulsants, beta-blockers or certain classes of antibiotics;
- Of the environmental factorssuch as exposure to the sun, tobacco or certain viral infections (Epstein-Barr virus and cytomegalovirus).
Currently, there is no treatment capable of definitively curing lupus. However, the treatments available (antimalarials, corticosteroids and immunosuppressants) have improved over the last few years and it is now possible to prevent the onset of flare-ups, relieve the symptoms of flare-ups and reduce the risk of complications. Appropriate and personalized care allows the patient to have the better quality of life possible with lupus.
Estelle B., Doctor of Pharmacy
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