Treatment of Lupus in Turkey
Lupus is generally treated in Turkey with medications such as anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen, Hydroxychloroquine for fatigue, skin problems, and joint issues. Steroid tablets, injections, and creams are used for kidney inflammation and rashes.
Two medications, Rituximab and Belimumab, are sometimes used to treat lupus. These medications work on the immune system to reduce the number of antibodies in the blood.
Cost of Lupus Treatment in Turkey
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Lupus in English
The scientific name for lupus is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE).
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Ways to Diagnose Lupus
Diagnosing lupus can be difficult because its signs and symptoms vary greatly from person to person. The symptoms may change over time and overlap with those of many other disorders. There is no single test that can diagnose lupus. A combination of several tests, including blood and urine tests, symptoms, and physical examination results, leads to the diagnosis.
Laboratory Tests
Blood and urine tests may include:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC): This test measures the number of red and white blood cells, platelets, and the amount of hemoglobin. It can indicate anemia, which commonly occurs in lupus. Decreased white blood cell or platelet counts can also occur in lupus.
- Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR): This blood test measures the rate at which red blood cells settle at the bottom of a tube in an hour. A faster-than-normal rate could indicate a systemic disease like lupus. This test is not specific to lupus and could also suggest infection, other inflammatory diseases, or cancer.
- Kidney and Liver Assessment: Blood tests can evaluate the functioning of the kidneys and liver, as lupus can affect these organs.
- Urine Test: A urine test may show high protein levels or red blood cells in the urine, which may result from lupus affecting the kidneys.
- Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) Test: A positive ANA test suggests immune system activation. While most people with lupus have a positive ANA test, not everyone with a positive result has lupus. If positive, further specific antibody tests may be recommended.
Imaging Tests:
If the doctor suspects that lupus is affecting the lungs or heart, the following tests may be suggested:
- Chest X-ray: This can show abnormal shadows indicating fluid or inflammation in the lungs.
- Echocardiogram: This test uses sound waves to produce real-time images of the beating heart. It can check for issues with heart valves and other heart parts.
Biopsy or Sample Collection:
Lupus can affect the kidneys in various ways, and treatments may vary depending on the type of damage. Sometimes, it’s necessary to test a small sample of kidney tissue to determine the best treatment. The sample can be obtained through a needle or a small incision.
A skin biopsy may also be performed to confirm the diagnosis of lupus affecting the skin.
Health Information on Lupus
What is Lupus?
Lupus is a disease where the body’s immune system attacks its tissues and organs. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect various organs, including joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.
Lupus can be hard to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often resemble those of other diseases. One of the characteristic features of lupus is a butterfly-shaped rash on the face, covering the cheeks and the bridge of the nose. This occurs in many but not all cases of lupus.
Some people are born with a predisposition to lupus, which may be triggered by infections, certain medications, or even sunlight. While there is no cure for lupus, treatments can help control the symptoms.
Symptoms of Lupus
The symptoms of lupus depend on the organs affected by the disease. The most common signs and symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
- Butterfly-shaped rash on the face covering the cheeks and nose bridge or rash on other areas of the body
- Skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure
- Fingers and toes turning white or blue when exposed to cold or during stress
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dry eyes
- Headaches, confusion, and memory loss
Types of Lupus
There are four types of lupus:
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): The most common form of the disease.
- Cutaneous Lupus: A form of lupus limited to the skin.
- Drug-induced Lupus: A lupus-like disease triggered by certain medications.
- Neonatal Lupus: A rare form that affects babies born to mothers with lupus.
Causes of Lupus
As an autoimmune disease, lupus occurs when the immune system attacks healthy tissue in the body. It is likely caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors.
The exact cause of lupus is unknown in most cases. However, some potential triggers include:
- Sunlight: Exposure to sunlight may cause skin lesions or an internal response in people predisposed to lupus.
- Infections: Infections can trigger lupus or cause flare-ups in some individuals.
- Medications: Certain blood pressure drugs, anti-seizure medications, and antibiotics can cause drug-induced lupus. Symptoms usually improve once the medication is stopped, though they rarely persist.
Risk Factors:
Factors that may increase the risk of developing lupus include:
- Gender: Lupus is more common in women.
- Age: While lupus can affect people of all ages, it is often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45.
- Ethnicity: Lupus is more common among African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans.
Complications
The inflammation caused by lupus can affect various parts of the body, including:
- Kidneys: Lupus can cause severe kidney damage, with kidney failure being one of the leading causes of death in lupus patients.
- Brain and Nervous System: If the brain is affected, lupus patients may experience headaches, dizziness, behavioral changes, vision problems, and even strokes or seizures. Many people with lupus also have memory issues and difficulty expressing thoughts.
- Blood and Blood Vessels: Lupus can lead to issues with blood, including a reduction in healthy red blood cells (anemia), increased risk of bleeding or clotting, and inflammation of blood vessels.
- Lungs: Lupus increases the risk of pleuritis, which causes pain while breathing, and can also lead to lung bleeding or pneumonia.
- Heart: Lupus can cause inflammation in the heart muscle, arteries, or heart lining, significantly raising the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attacks.
Other potential complications include:
- Infections: Lupus and its treatments can weaken the immune system, making patients more prone to infections.
- Cancer: Lupus may increase the risk of certain types of cancer, although the risk is relatively small.
- Bone Tissue Death: Reduced blood flow to the bones can lead to small fractures and eventually bone collapse.
- Pregnancy Complications: Women with lupus are at higher risk of miscarriage, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and premature birth. Doctors often recommend delaying pregnancy until the disease has been under control for at least six months.
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