Systemic lupus erythematosus, a name that makes many people sound creepy, is said by many people to be an immortal cancer and a killer of young girls, but just how scary is she and what kind of disease is SLE? Today I will give you a brief introduction. In fact, in the eyes of our rheumatologists, SLE is not that scary. Overview: SLE occurs in young women, with a female to male ratio of 7-9:1; it is called SLE because one of the main manifestations of the disease is the appearance of a rash and some red spots on the face, like being bitten by a wolf, which is why it is called lupus. However, there are many patients who do not have skin manifestations at the onset of the disease, only hair loss, mouth ulcers, etc. In addition to erythema, there are other skin lesions, such as photosensitivity (red rash, itching and tingling after sun exposure), hair loss, discoid erythema, Raynaud’s phenomenon (when hands or feet turn white and purple after exposure to cold), etc. There is also recurrent mucosal ulcers of the mouth/nose that are common in patients with SLE. In addition to peripheral accumulation of skin, SLE can also accumulate in many organs throughout the body, such as kidneys, heart, brain, blood, digestive and respiratory systems, etc. It can be said that SLE is a disease of no evil and can accumulate in almost all organs of our body. Related tests When a patient suspects lupus erythematosus, what tests do we need to do? Personally, I suggest that it is better to go to a specialist in rheumatology to see if tests are needed or not, and which tests are needed. Here I will briefly talk about the tests that need to be done for lupus erythematosus. 1. Routine tests: for example, serum globulin content, complement C3/4, blood sedimentation and C-reactive protein, etc. 2. The most important and main test is autoantibodies. This includes anti-nuclear antibodies and autoantibody profile. Among them, the specificity of SLE anti-double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) antibody is 95% and the sensitivity is 70%; the specificity of anti-Sm antibody is as high as 99%, but the sensitivity is only 25%; anti-nucleosome antibody, anti-ribosomal P protein antibody, anti-histone, anti-u1RNP, anti-SSA and anti-SSB antibodies can also appear in the serum of SLE patients. Therefore, to confirm the diagnosis of SLE, testing for the relevant antibodies is required. However, there are also a small percentage of patients who do not have positive autoantibodies and can be diagnosed with lupus erythematosus. Treatment General treatment: seemingly unimportant, but actually very important, is patient education. In fact, it is very simple, that is, to tell you that lupus erythematosus is not that scary and can be effectively controlled with regular treatment. Patients should understand the disease correctly, eliminate the fear, understand the significance of regular medication, learn to recognize the signs of disease activity, cooperate with treatment, follow medical advice, and follow up regularly. Understand the necessity of long-term follow-up. Avoid excessive exposure to ultraviolet light, use UV protection and avoid excessive fatigue. Anti-rheumatic drugs: methotrexate, azathioprine, cyclophosphamide and mycophenolate, etc. Different patients, different conditions, the use of different drugs. But all must be used for 2-3 months to have a significant effect. 2.Glucocorticoids are needed by almost all patients with lupus erythematosus, but the dose and method of use are different according to the different conditions. 3.Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), in SLE, can also be used. The specific use of what drugs for treatment must be done under the guidance of rheumatologists small, do not take the initiative to change the drug, stop the drug or adjust the drug dose. Many patients are worried about the side effects of hormones and adjust the dose of hormones on their own, resulting in a relapse of the disease, which instead requires a larger dose of hormones to control the disease. This is not worth the cost. As long as you have an optimistic attitude, follow up with the rheumatology department regularly, take regular medication, pay attention to rest, avoid sunlight and listen to your doctor. This disease can be effectively controlled. Many of our patients, who were very ill when they came, are now living well; many girls have their own babies; therefore, you must believe in yourself that lupus erythematosus is definitely not an immortal cancer and is definitely not an incurable disease.