What to look for in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

  Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with slow onset, insidious occurrence, diverse and variable clinical manifestations, and can involve the skin, plasma membrane, joints, kidney and central nervous system, etc. Patients with SLE should pay attention to: 1. Be optimistic and positive in life, treat the disease correctly, and avoid mental stimulation. At present, regular and good treatment in regular hospitals can make most patients live and work normally for a long time, and many patients have been living and working normally for more than 20 years, or even more than 35 years, including marriage and childbirth, until retirement.  2, do not arbitrarily discontinue drugs: many patients treatment failure is caused by their own arbitrary reduction of dosage or discontinuation of hormones, increase or decrease of drugs need to be agreed by the rheumatologist before. Long-term use of hormones is likely to cause osteoporosis, so attention should be paid to calcium supplements and active vitamin D. 3, adhere to regular checkups: because there is still a risk of relapse after the patient’s condition is in remission, and often there are abnormal laboratory tests first, and then the patient has uncomfortable feelings. Therefore, patients should have regular laboratory tests. Especially patients with unstable conditions and patients with kidney damage should have their blood and urine routines checked at least once a month.  4, do not believe in “bias”: some patients believe in some advertisements, looking around for “unique treatment”, wrongly thinking that the more money spent, the better the effect will be. The result is the opposite, not only costly, and often aggravate the disease due to the exhaustion of the road. Medical experts all over the world now believe that lupus cannot be cured temporarily, but the disease can be in long-term remission. Patients should be cautious about those treatments that are not yet recognized by the medical community.  5. Dietary contraindications: Do not consume or consume less food with enhanced photosensitivity: such as figs, purple clouds, rape, yellow mud snail and celery, etc. Mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms and other mushrooms and certain food dyes and tobacco can also have the potential to induce SLE, also try not to eat or eat less. Diet should be light, preferably low fat, low sugar, low salt, high protein, absolutely prohibit smoking, drinking alcohol.  6, living should pay attention to the cold and warm appropriate, avoid staying in crowded places to prevent cross-infection.  7, reduce sun exposure, avoid sun exposure, go out with an umbrella, wear a hat, long-sleeved shirt, long skirt. Because sun exposure will make the patient’s facial erythema aggravated, or exposed skin rash, papules, or make the whole body symptoms aggravated, called “photoallergy” phenomenon.  8. Try to avoid taking drugs that cause allergy or aggravate the disease. Such as penicillin, sulfonamides; kidney failure patients should pay attention to avoid the application of drugs with greater kidney damage, such as gentamicin, butamycin, ciprofloxacin, etc.; should also try to use cosmetics, hair dyes, so as not to cause allergies and chemical stimulation of unknown ingredients.  9, pay attention to the application of contraceptive measures. Oral contraceptives are unfavorable to the disease because they are estrogen and progestin, and lupus erythematosus is mostly in young female patients, and the onset may be related to high estrogen level.