Bay Biosciences provides high quality, clinical grade bio-specimens, matched serum, plasma and PBMC samples from patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE).
The K2EDTA plasma and PBMC bio-fluid specimens are processed from patient’s peripheral whole-blood using customized collection and processing protocols.
Lupus Overview
Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks healthy tissue. It can cause a wide range of symptoms throughout the body. Medical treatment and home remedies can help manage it.
According to the Lupus Foundation of America, people report around 16,000 new cases of lupus in the United States each year, and up to 1.5 million people may be living with the condition in the U.S.
What is Lupus?
Lupus refers to a range of conditions that can cause symptoms throughout the body. It is an autoimmune condition, which means it happens when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy body tissue. Symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common type, and people often use the term lupus to refer to SLE. However, there are other types, depending on which part of the body lupus mainly affects.
In addition to SLE, there are cutaneous lupus (such as discoid lupus erythematosus [DLE]), drug-induced lupus (DIL), and neonatal lupus.
Systemic lupus erythematosus
SLE accounts for 70% of lupus cases. It affects multiple organs and systems throughout the body. For this reason, SLE tends to be a more severe form of lupus. The symptoms can range from mild to severe.
SLE can cause inflammation in the:
- Blood
- Heart
- Joints
- Kidneys
- Lungs
- Skin
This inflammation may happen in one of these areas or affect multiple areas at one time.
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus
In DLE, a type of cutaneous lupus, symptoms affect only the skin. DLE appears as circular lesions, typically on the scalp and face, although they can appear on other parts of the body, such as inside the ears.
The lesions tend to be red and may become thick and scaly. In some cases, the lesions lead to scarring and skin discoloration. If lesions scar on the scalp, hair may not regrow in that area.
DLE does not affect the internal organs, but around 10% of people with DLE go on to develop SLE, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. However, it is possible that these people already had SLE and their skin symptoms led to a DLE diagnosis first.
Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus refers to skin lesions that appear on parts of the body that have exposure to the sun. These lesions do not cause scarring but may cause skin discoloration.
Drug-Induced Lupus
Drug-induced lupus (DIL) results from the long-term use of certain medications. The symptoms tend to be similar to those in SLE but are often less severe.
Over 100 medications have been identified as potential causes of discoid induced lupus (DIL), including:
- Hydralazine, a hypertension medication
- Isoniazid, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis
- Minocycline, an antibiotic used to treat some skin conditions
- Procainamide, a heart arrhythmia medication
Discoid induced lupus (DIL) typically goes away within 6 months of stopping the medication.
Neonatal Lupus
Neonatal lupus can affect newborns if their birth parent passes on antibodies for lupus or Sjögren’s Syndrome through the placenta during pregnancy.
If the birth parent has these antibodies — whether or not they have lupus — there is a 2% an infant will develop neonatal lupus.
At birth, they may have:
- a skin rash
- Liver problems
- Low blood counts
The skin symptoms usually go away within a few weeks, but some infants may have a congenital heart block , in which the heart cannot regulate a normal and rhythmic pumping action. This is a more serious complication, and the infant may need a pacemaker.
How Does Lupus Affect the Body?
The symptoms of lupus will depend to some extent on the type of lupus.
American College of Rheumatology lists 11 criteria for describing lupus. If a person meets four or more of the criteria, they will consider a diagnosis of lupus.
The 11 criteria are:
- Malar rash: A malar rash is a butterfly-shaped rash appears across the cheeks and nose.
- Discoid rash: Raised red patches develop on the skin.
- Photosensitivity: A skin rash appears after exposure to sunlight.
- Oral or nose ulcers: Ulcers appear in a person’s mouth or nose.
- Nonerosive arthritis: This type of arthritis does not destroy the bones around the joints but does cause tenderness and swelling.
- Pericarditis or pleuritis: Inflammation affects the lining around the heart (pericarditis) or lungs (pleuritis).
- Kidney disorder: Tests show high levels of protein or cellular casts in the urine if a person has a kidney problem, such as lupus nephritis.
- Neurologic disorder: A person may experience seizures, psychosis, or problems with thinking and reasoning.
- Hematologic (blood) disorder: Blood may show a low red blood cell count (anemia), a low white blood cell count (leukopenia), or a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia).
- Immunologic disorder: Tests show that there are anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, anti-Smith antibodies, or antiphospholipid antibodies (APLs).
- Positive ANA: A test detects high levels of ANA.
The symptoms of lupus occur in times of flare-ups. Between flare-ups, people usually experience times of remission, when there are few or no symptoms.
Other Symptoms
A person with lupus may also experience:
- Arthritis
- Chest pain when breathing deeply
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Headaches
- Muscle and joint pain
- Sensitivity to sunlight
- Mouth ulcers
- Memory problems
- Unusual hair loss
- Pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress, known as Raynaud’s disease.
Signs and Symptoms of Lupus in Females
The symptoms of lupus can vary widely, including between males and females.
Symptoms more commonly seen in females include the following:
- Arthritis
- Hair loss
- Malar rash
- Mouth ulcers
- Sensitivity to sunlight
Signs and Symptoms of Lupus in Males
Research suggests that, while males are less likely than females to have lupus, the symptoms tend to be more severe.
Symptoms more commonly seen in males include the following:
- Cardiovascular complications
- Chest pain
- Kidney complications
- Low blood count
- Weight loss
Effect on Other Body Systems
Lupus can also cause the following systems, depending on which organs it affects:
- Blood vessels: Vasculitis (inflammation of the blood vessels) can affect circulation.
- Blood: Lupus can affect blood composition, leading to anemia, leukopenia, or thrombocytopenia.
- Central nervous system: Symptoms may include brain fog, headaches, seizures, and strokes. A condition known as lupus cerebritis can cause confusion, difficulty, thinking, mood changes, seizures, lethargy, and coma.
- Heart: Inflammation can lead to myocarditis, endocarditis, or pericarditis. Symptoms include chest pain.
- Kidneys: Swelling of the legs, feet, and face, frequent urination, and high blood pressure can result from kidney disease.
- Lungs:There is a higher risk of lung diseases, such as pleurisy and pneumonia, which can involve chest pain and breathing difficulty.
Other Complications
Other complications that can arise from lupus include:
- A higher risk of infections, as both lupus and the treatment can weaken the immune system
- Bone tissue death and bone fractures, due to the effects of lupus and medication use
- Pregnancy complications, such as pregnancy loss, preterm birth, and preeclampsia.
A doctor may recommend delaying pregnancy until lupus has been under control for at least 6 months.
Causes and Risk Factors
Lupus is an autoimmune condition, but the exact cause is unclear.
What Goes Wrong?
The immune system protects the body from pathogens such as bacteria, but sometimes it mistakenly targets healthy tissue. This can cause inflammation, swelling, pain, and tissue damage.
Why Does the Immune System go Wrong?
Researchers do not yet entirely understand what causes lupus, but they believe it is caused by multiple factors.
One possible theory relates to cell death, a natural process that occurs as the body renews its cells. Due to genetic factors, the bodies of people with lupus may not properly clear cells that have died.
The dead cells that remain may lead to the production of autoantibodies, such as antinuclear antibodies (ANAs), that go on to attack the body, causing lupus symptoms.
ANAs are commonly present in patients with autoimmune conditions such as lupus. They work by targeting the nucleus of the body’s cells. The nucleus contains genetic material.
Risk Factors: Hormones, Genes, and Environment
Lupus may develop in response to several factors. These may be:
- Environmental factors, such as exposure to tobacco smoke or pollution or having the Epstein-Barr virus, which causes mononucleosis
- Hormonal factors as females aged 15–44 years are nine times more likely to have lupus than males
- Genetic factors, as lupus often runs in families, and scientists have identified certain genes that are common to patients with lupus
Are Children at Risk?
According to the American College of Rheumatology, 20% of people with lupus develop the condition before the age of 20, but it rarely appears before the age of 5.
In children, lupus may have more severe symptoms. Up to 50% of children with lupus have kidney symptoms.
Treatment and Home Remedies
Treatment for lupus will depend on the type of lupus. Options include:
- A range of treatments to manage complications such as infections, seizures, skin, or kidney problems
- Biologic drugs, such as Belimumab
- Immunosuppressants, such as mycophenolate or methotrexate, which dampen the action of the immune system
- Medication to treat skin and joint symptoms
- Protective clothing and sunscreen to shield the skin from sunlight
Home Remedies
Home remedies and lifestyle measures may help protect body systems and manage some symptoms.
While research is limited some evidence suggests a varied and balanced diet can help manage lupus. A doctor or dietitian can help a person with lupus make a diet plan that suits their needs.
Options may include:
- Taking omega-3 fatty acids
- Limiting foods that contain cholesterol and saturated fats
- Reducing sodium intake
- Ensuring a sufficient intake of vitamins such as vitamin D and vitamin B
Other lifestyle changes that may help include:
- Avoiding or quitting smoking
- Building or keeping up social networks to reduce the risk of social isolation
- Doing regular, moderate exercise
- Limiting alcohol intake
- Managing stress
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of lupus can be difficult because symptoms can resemble symptoms of other conditions.
A doctor will ask about symptoms, carry out a physical examination, and take a personal and family medical history. They may also request blood tests and other laboratory investigations.
Biomarkers are antibodies, proteins, genetics, and other factors that can show a doctor what is happening in the body or how the body is responding to treatment. They can help identify whether a person has a condition even when there are no symptoms.
Blood Tests
Blood tests can show whether certain biomarkers are present, and biomarkers can give information about which autoimmune disease, if any, a person has.
- Antinuclear antibody: Around 95% of people with lupus will have a positive result in the ANA test, although some people test positive for ANA without having lupus.
- Antiphospholipid antibodies (APLs): These are present in around 50% of patients with lupus, but they can also occur in people without lupus.
- Anti-dsDNA antibody test: Around 47% of patients with lupus test positive for these antibodies, according to a study involving 1,977 people.
- Anti-Smith antibody: People with lupus may have antibodies to Sm, a type of protein.
- Anti-U1RNP antibody: Around 25–30% of people with lupus have anti-U1RNP antibodies, and fewer than 1% of people without lupus have them. However, it may be present with other autoimmune conditions.
- Anti-Ro/SSA and anti-La/SSB antibodies: These antibodies have been linked to various immune conditions, including SLE.
- Antihistone antibodies: Antibodies to histones are proteins that play a role in the structure of DNA. People with DIL or SLE may have them.
- Serum (blood) complement test: This test measures the levels of proteins that the body consumes when inflammation takes place. Low levels suggest inflammation is present, and the condition may be active.
- Nonspecific tests: Various other tests look for markers of inflammation, including C-reactive protein and erythrocyte sedimentation rate.
Additional tests may include the following:
- Imaging tests to reveal any organ damage
- Tissue biopsies, usually of the skin or kidneys, to check for damage or inflammation.
- Urine tests, which can help identify effects on the kidneys.
What are the Main Causes of Developing lupus?
Researchers do not currently know what causes lupus. However, they believe that environmental, genetic, immunological, and endocrine factors may play a role.
What are Usually the First Signs and Symptoms of Lupus?
Early signs of lupus may include the following:
- A malar or butterfly rash across the face
- Chest pain when breathing deeply
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Joint pain
However, the signs and symptoms of lupus vary widely and will depend on the type of lupus.
What are Three Triggers of Lupus?
The following three factors may trigger lupus:
- Exposure to toxins, such as cigarette smoke or air pollution
- having an infection, such as the Epstein-Barr Virus
- Stress
What is the Life Expectancy of a Person with Lupus?
Life expectancy will depend partly on the type of lupus. Statistics suggest that 85–90% of people with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) will live at least 10 years after their diagnosis, and many will live much longer.
Drug-induced lupUs (DIL) usually resolves within a few weeks after stopping the drug that caused the reaction.
Is lupus a Serious Disease?
Lupus is an incurable disease and symptoms can range from mild to life-threatening.
It is believed that between 10-15% of people with lupus will die prematurely due to complications of lupus. However, due to improved diagnosis and disease management, most people with the disease will go on to live a normal life span.
Summary
Lupus is an autoimmune condition that can affect a wide range of body systems. There are different types of lupus, but SLE is the most common type.
Some patients may experience cycles of flare-ups and remissions, whereas others may have ongoing symptoms. The varied experiences of lupus can make it challenging for doctors to diagnose.
Once a person has a diagnosis, various treatment options can help manage symptoms, limit damage to body organs, and maximize a person’s quality of life.
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Samples available include cancer (tumor) tissue, cancer serum, cancer plasma, cancer, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). and human tissue samples from most other therapeutic areas and diseases.
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- Pleural effusion
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- Aqueous humor
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