Common Misconceptions About Lupus

[Guest guest]

Common Misconceptions About

Lupus

Rheumatology, the branch of Internal Medicine

specializing in the treatment of such autoimmune diseases as SLE, is a relative

new-comer, having only been established in 1972. Though much knowledge

has been acquired and many advancements made since

that time, the vast majority of our nation's physicians not trained in

Rheumatology are not current on the latest research findings concerning

Systemic Lupus. As a result, most of our health care professionals are ill

informed, creating tragic mis-diagnosis for many

lupus sufferers.

Unfortunately, many physicians erroneously believe a

lupus patient MUST have the “Butterfly Rash " , that Photosensitivity

EXCLUSIVELY produces a skin rash, and most look ONLY for LE cells, anti-native

DNA, and anti-sm antibodies ..

completely ignoring a false-positive syphilis result.

The most commonly over-looked lab test is that for the anti-cardiolipin

antibody.

Patients with the Lupus Anticoagulant Syndrome commonly

show normal or near-normal lab results in all other respects, and usually

present with symptoms different from those most widely associated with the

disease. Due to this phenomenon, until an individual is specifically tested for

the Anticoagulant Syndrome, a lupus diagnosis remains elusive.

In addition, many physicians are unaware that normal or

near-normal lab results CANNOT eliminate a lupus diagnosis in a patient with

reports of extensive systemic complaints. Even fewer physicians realize that

fluctuating laboratory results in a lupus patient are not necessarily in direct

proportion to disease activity. It is possible for a patient with the

Anticoagulant Syndrome to suffer a stroke, (or TIA) while Sedimentation Rate,

blood compliments, spinal fluid, and anti-DNA may all

be normal.

Individuals with SLE will, from time to time throughout

the course of their disease, have ANA (Anti-Nuclear Antibodies) results ranging

from very low titers to high titers, and can even have negative results in the

height of illness. However, perfectly healthy individuals can have a positive

ANA, so this alone cannot establish a lupus diagnosis. Because of inadequate

education in SLE, many physicians will not even think to test a patient for

lupus -- especially a man or child -- while others are too quick to give a

lupus diagnosis without adequate findings.

It is believed by some Rheumatologists that many patients

who have been diagnosed with Systemic Lupus actually have Fibromyalgia

(FM) instead. While FM can be quite functionally disabling, and it shares many

symptoms with SLE, FM does not cause organ damage and it is not life

threatening.

While low platelet and white cell counts are listed among

the diagnostic criteria, many physicians are unaware that elevated platelet and

white cell counts can be indicative of " Vasculitis " .. a secondary condition

which is quite common in SLE. In fact, a great majority of lupus symptoms can

be traced to this vascular condition, especially in those patients with the

Anticoagulant Syndrome.

Another mis-conception is that

lupus patients who suffer Central Nervous System (CNS) involvement will always

show the presence of anti-native DNA antibodies. While this antibody certainly

leads to a definite CNS diagnosis, there remain a great many lupus patients

without this antibody who display CNS involvement.

It has recently been discovered that cognitive

dysfunctions can also be traced to to low levels of

oxygen in the blood, especially in those in who

experience such vascular disorders as migraine headaches, Raynaud's Phenomenon, and the Anticoagulant

Syndrome. This is thought to be a result of restricted blood flow to the brain

due to inflammation of blood vessels. While 50% of lupus

patients have the anti-DNA antibody, as many as 75% report cognitive

impairments.

Hugs,

Deanna

LUPUS Serenity

Prayer...

Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot

change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to hide the

bodies of doctors I shot when they said, You're perfectly healthy, it's all in

your head "