Written By: Zemen Habtemariam
Edited By: Kenneth Dandurand
Within recent years, the Lupus Foundation of America reports an estimated 1.5 million Americans having a form of lupus.(1) Systemic lupus erythematosus, also known as SLE, is the most common form of this chronic, autoimmune disease. It results in extensive inflammation and tissue damage - affecting vital organs like the brain, lungs, and kidneys.(2) Inflammation of the nervous system can produce complications like memory problems, confusion, strokes, and even seizures.(3)
Who Does it Affect?
Statistically, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention note that 90% of those with lupus are women - with Black and Latina patients being 2 to 3 times more likely to develop the condition and experience disease progression.(1,2)
What are the signs and symptoms?
SLE can often be mistaken for other diseases - marking its claim to fame as the “great imitator”.(1) Overall, the most common symptoms include fatigue, pain or swelling in the joints, fever, sensitivity to light, recurring mouth sores and most notably, a butterfly-shaped rash across the cheeks and nose.(4)
Individuals can have periods of symptoms called flares, followed by symptom free periods.(5) Frequency and severity will vary - making diagnosis difficult. Common triggers for flares include stress, lack of sleep, and excess exposure to sunlight, in addition to injury or infection. Warning signs of flares include new signs of a rash, severe headaches, dizziness, and fever.(6)
What are the treatment options available?
The goals of treatment, overall, are to control symptoms and reduce inflammation in one’s overactive system. Over-the-counter NSAIDs like ibuprofen can help reduce pain and swelling.(7) Prednisone, a corticosteroid, and hydroxychloroquine, an antimalarial drug, both calm the immune system and treat joint pain, skin rashes, and lung inflammation respectively.(3,7) When lupus begins to affect major organs and/or other treatments are not working, immunosuppressants like belimumab and azathioprine can be used to block immune responses.(3,4,7) However, it is important to note that lupus affects everyone differently and the treatment medications have many side effects; therefore, treatment and monitoring must be tailored to the individual.
About the Author:
Zemen Habtemariam, PharmD
Pharmacy Practice Fellow for Clinical Pharmacy Associates
Dr. Zemen Habtemariam, PharmD, is a Pharmacy Practice Fellow for Clinical Pharmacy Associates. He received his B.S. in Chemistry from University of Maryland, College Park and received his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Maryland School of Pharmacy. He serves as the Pharmacy Practice Research Fellow for Clinical Pharmacy Associates, Inc. He has had broad range of pharmacist experience in community, managed care, and clinical trial settings. He has previously served as the Pharmacist of Record on multiple investigational drug trials. He also assisted in coordinating transitions of care for atypical antipsychotic patients for the Maryland Medicaid Peer Review Program, and conducted comprehensive medication reviews for Spanish-speaking patients for AdhereHealth
Kenneth Dandurand, RPh, MS
Co-Founder and CEO of Clinical Pharmacy Associates, Inc. and Co-Founder and President of MedNovations, Inc. Board Member Asperger/Autism Network
Ken is an ASHP residency trained clinical pharmacist with a BS from Northeastern University and a Master’s from Oregon State University. As an entrepreneur and researcher for 35 years he co-founded Clinical Pharmacy Associates and MedNovations successful leaders in providing direct pharmaceutical care via tele-pharmacy. He is dedicated to improving the delivery of medication therapy management to consumers. To that end, Ken has authored a chapter in the Book “Misadventures in Health Care: Inside Stories” titled “Prescription for Error.”