Treatment of systemic lupus

Able to completely cure lupus does not exist. The goal of treatment in lupus - alleviate the symptoms and protect internal organs, reducing inflammation and / or reduce the autoimmune activity of the organism.

The method of treatment is chosen individually. Many patients with mild symptoms do not require treatment, and it is enough at times to pass the course receive anti-inflammatory drugs.

Those with more severe disease and affects the internal organs, require large doses of corticosteroids in combination with medicines that suppress the immune system.

In exacerbations of lupus patients will require more rest. Poor sleep and lack of exercise can aggravate the symptoms of systemic lupus. However, exercise is too intense during exacerbations is not necessary. It is best to ask your doctor what kind of exercise will do you good, and what is more, it will bring harm.

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce inflammation, muscle pain, joint pain Joint pain - how to understand what is going on? . These drugs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and sulindac. Not all patients tolerate these medications. Among their side effects diarrhea, abdominal pain Abdominal pain: Types and Symptoms , Ulcers or bleeding ulcers. Sometimes, to prevent the occurrence of ulcers, together with non-steroidal drugs give misoprostol.
• Corticosteroids reduce inflammation effective non-steroidal drugs. They are particularly often prescribed when the disease affects the internal organs. They are taken orally, injected directly into the tissue or intravenously. Unfortunately, the corticosteroids has many serious side effects that occur with chronic administration, for example, weight gain, thinning of the bone tissue and skin infections, diabetes, puffiness of the face, a cataract Cataracts - how to solve the problem completely?   and death (necrosis) of tissue.
• Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) - anti-malarial drug which is particularly effective for patients with symptoms such as fatigue, skin rashes and joint pains. Constant reception Plaquenil may prevent exacerbation of lupus. Side effects of his rare, but when it is received may appear diarrhea, upset stomach and eye pigmentation changes (which, incidentally, happens very rarely).
• When resistant skin diseases in combination with plaquenil can be used drugs such as chloroquine (Aralen) or quinacrine.
• The immunomodulators used in the treatment of people with severe forms of lupus, e.g., when there is damage to the internal organs. Used, such immunomodulators: methotrexate (Rheumatrex, Trexall), azathioprine (Imuran), cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan), chlorambucil (Leukeran) and cyclosporine (Sandimmune). Any immunomodulators seriously increase the chance of infection and bleeding; they can not be taken during pregnancy or if the patient is planning conception - they may harm the fetus.

In recent years in the treatment of lupus, especially when there are kidney disease, I began to be used mycophenolate mofetil. His reception also helps to maintain remission.

In very rare cases, the level of platelets in patients with lupus falls so that the probability of spontaneous bleeding becomes for them a real threat. Since platelets destroying the spleen, it is removed surgically.

Plasmapheresis is used to remove antibodies from the blood and other substances that suppress the immune system.

In extreme cases, kidney damage in patients requiring dialysis Dialysis - maintains normal body   and / or a kidney transplant.

In recent studies have shown that rituximab (Rituxan) may be useful in the treatment of lupus. This antibody is administered intravenously, and it inhibits the specific lymphocytes - B cells, which play an important role in how proceeds erythematosus. After the suppression of B-cells usually occurs in remission. This therapy is especially useful for people with kidney disease.

In addition, the researchers found that omega-3 can help reduce disease activity, and probably reduces the risk of disruption of the heart.

Diagnostics

Despite the multitude of symptoms that are present in lupus, no analysis can accurately diagnose the disease. Therefore, doctors have to use criteria that are specifically designed to improve the accuracy of diagnosis of lupus. Some patients with suspected lupus does not meet these criteria, and put them to a definitive diagnosis is not possible. Other patients develop sufficiently meet these criteria only after several months or years after the start of observation. Lupus is considered very probable if the patient's symptoms correspond to four or more of the criteria, but sometimes the treatment of lupus and administered with a smaller line.

The criteria that are used in the diagnosis of lupus

• Butterfly-shaped rash (on the nose and cheeks)
• Discoid rash (red patches on the skin, hyperpigmentation Hyperpigmentation: Causes and Treatment   or hypopigmentation; after the rash sometimes leaves scars)
• Increased sensitivity (response to ultraviolet rays in the form of skin rash)
• Ulcers on the mucous membrane of the mouth, nose, and throat
• Arthritis
• Pleurisy or pericarditis
• Abnormalities in kidney function
• Disorders of the nervous system
• Deviations blood parameters
• Immunological disorders
• Antinuclear antibodies Antibodies - "soldiers' immunity   in blood

Furthermore, blood tests do Blood tests: a mirror of health To detect inflammation, blood chemistry analysis, direct analysis of internal tissues of the body and a biopsy. Deviations in terms of the last two tests can be an additional proof that the patient has lupus. Which tests are needed, the doctor in each case to decide.

Treatment of gonarthrosis 2 degrees

Paracetamol has a weaker analgesic effect, compared with NSAIDs, and has anti-inflammatory properties. However, for patients diagnosed gonartroz Gonartroz - what could be the consequences of the destruction of cartilage   2 degrees of the knee, this drug is often quite effective. For most people who do not exceed the recommended doses, acetaminophen is quite safe. It is contraindicated only for people with individual intolerance, liver disease, and those who regularly drink alcohol.

Opioid analgesics in gonarthrosis 2 degrees are assigned very rarely. This is due, firstly, to the fact that this form of gonartroza only in very rare cases cause such pain, which can not cope with NSAIDs or paracetamol. Secondly, this type of pain relievers cause serious side effects, for example - dizziness, confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, bladder dysfunction Urinary bladder - structure and function   and bowel habit. Moreover, opioids not effectively relieve pain arising during the motion, which often makes their use in gonarthrosis 2 degrees impractical. If the doctor still considers it necessary to appoint opioids, he usually chooses relatively weak and safety of this group of drugs, such as tramadol.

Treatment of gonarthrosis 2 degrees injections of hyaluronic acid

Hyaluronic acid - a natural polymer having essential for healthy joints. It is a lubricant is responsible for cushioning the joints, partly - for their flexibility, as well as for transporting nutrients into the cartilage and from it. In healthy synovial fluid of the joint concentration of hyaluronic acid reaches 2.5-3.5 mg / ml. The joints affected by osteoarthritis deforming Osteoarthritis - when the joint loses its function It lowered to 0.8-2 mg / mL. As a consequence, the reduced functionality synovial fluid and accelerate the degenerative processes in the joints. Hyaluronic acid which make directly into the synovial space, temporarily relieve the pain and make the joints more flexible. For patients with gonarthrosis 2 degrees, this method of treatment is particularly effective; the more severe forms of the disease injections of hyaluronic acid usually allow only temporarily postpone surgery.

An important condition for the successful treatment of gonarthrosis 2 degrees is to reduce the load on the knee joints. As a rule, doctors refer patients with this disorder to a physical therapist who will explain in detail how to engage in sports and physical labor, to avoid further damage to the joints, as well as what exercises you need to perform to keep the joints mobile. Bandages and special insoles well help relieve aching joints. They must choose a doctor; orthoses, bought in pharmacies or on their own through the Internet can be cheaper than those made to suit the individual needs of the patient, but are unlikely to be as effective.

Folk remedies

In the treatment can also be used a variety of folk remedies. For example, very well relieve the pain in the knee joints packs of red or blue clay. Dry clay is mixed with water to the consistency of sour cream, ready-mix thick smear on the knee, is applied on top of plastic wrap or a plastic bag, and then wrap the knee with a thick towel or handkerchief. The compress can be kept two to three hours. Compresses several times a day until the pain in the knee will not pass. You can also make simple hot and cold compresses to the knee - they are successfully used in many different kinds of deforming arthrosis.

Slow the progression of gonarthrosis also helps proper nutrition Proper nutrition - the basic precepts of healthy food   and avoiding harmful habits. Patients who are overweight, it is strongly recommended to lose weight - it's pretty much makes life easier for aching joints.

Finally, patients with knee OA grade 2 need to undergo regular inspection. Despite all the measures taken, gonarthrosis may progress, and it is important to identify as early as possible serious damage to the structure of the joints, which may require surgical treatment.