Lupus: what can trigger the disease?

Following the Paris Dermatological Days, the congress of the National Society of Internal Medicine and the French Congress of Rheumatology, the French lupus association (AFL) looks back at the origins of this disease.

“Systemic lupus erythematosus or systemic lupus erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease”first explain the members of the non-profit organization in a press release. “Particularly trying, it manifests itself by symptoms which affect different organs and biological anomalies”, they add.

Lupus: what are the risk factors?

The causes of the appearance of lupus remain unknown today, but certain factors can contribute to it:

• Hormonal disruption: for example in women during puberty, pregnancy or menopause.
• A genetic predisposition: in 10% of cases, lupus affects several members of the same family. The frequency of lupus is also high (24 to 56%) in identical twins, but not in fraternal twins.
• Taking medications: anticonvulsants, beta-blockers and certain antibiotics can influence the appearance of lupus. In these cases, the symptoms of the pathology generally stop when treatment is stopped.
• Environmental factors: exposure to UV rays from the sun, tobacco, stress or certain viruses such as Epstein-Barr.

Lupus affects women in 90% of cases

Like all autoimmune diseases, lupus affects women in 90% of cases. Patients are generally between 15 and 40 years old. “As the disease mainly affects women of childbearing age, pregnancies must be planned and closely monitored,” add the activists. “Children can also be affected by lupus, but very rarely (less than 2% of cases concern those under 19). When it concerns men, this condition is immediately more serious. they detail.

Today, hydroxychloroquine constitutes the basic treatment for lupus, which has long remained without medication. In cases of severe damage, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants and biotherapies can be used.

To diagnose lupus, doctors first perform a careful clinical examination. Several analyzes are then carried out in the laboratory.