Senior rheumatologists, immunologists at the web summit have advised patients not to stop medicines without consulting doctor and take precautions
Taking note of the fact that continuing medication is key to managing lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease, senior rheumatologists and immunologists at the IHW Council’s web summit have advised patients not to stop medicines without consulting the doctor and take precautions.
“India has a big burden of lupus which affects about 5-250 in every 100,000 population, more on the higher side with some ethnic and geographic variations. It is the most dramatic disease rheumatologists treat due to the rapid improvement in the treatment options: 40 years ago, about 90 per cent of people with lupus and an affected kidney died within 5-10 years; now, 90 per cent of lupus patients live for more than 40 years. There is no way we can predict or prevent the disease. Hence, the key lies in early diagnosis, getting treated and continuing follow-up as the disease is not curable, affects multiple organs such as kidney, brain, nervous system, blood vessels and may cause infection, even without immunosuppressants treatments,” said Dr Debasish Danda, Professor & Founder of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology, CMC Vellore; President-Elect, Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR).
Discussing the various manifestations of the disease and the various organs it affects, Dr Ashish Badika, Director Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology at Arthritis & Rheumatology Center, Indore, said, “Lupus has a varied presentation that includes fever, fatigue, pain, swelling, stiffness in and around multiple joints, skin rashes such as butterfly rashes, hair fall, discolouration of fingers, recurrent oral ulcers. It can also affect multiple systems including neurological (psychological manifestation, seizures, depression, headache, visual problems and even stroke), kidney, blood (including anaemia, drop in platelet or WBC), heart, and lung.”
“People suffering from lupus should be careful about what they eat – they should avoid too many sweets or fried foods and saturated fats such as ghee. Since these patients are more prone to getting infection due to their treatment and the medicines they take, it is important they take adequate precaution in preparing the food and maintain cleanliness in and around the area where they are preparing food and having food prepared outside. Eat food that is freshly cooked and hygienically prepared,” said Dr Suvrat Arya, Consultant, Department of Rheumatology, Jaypee Hospital, Noida.
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