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Other Less Common Types of Lupus
Although the term lupus (LOO-puhss) commonly refers to systemic lupus erythematosus (ur-uh-thee-muh-TOH-suhss) or SLE, this is only one type of the disease. There are other, less common types of lupus.
The other types of lupus are:
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Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE)
Discoid (DISS-koid) lupus erythematosus (ur-uh-thee-muh-TOH-suhss), or DLE, is a chronic skin disorder in which a red, raised rash appears on the face, scalp, or elsewhere. The raised areas may become thick and scaly and may cause scarring. The rash may last for days or years and may recur.
Sometimes discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) causes sores in the mouth or nose. A doctor will remove a small piece of the rash or sore and look at it under a microscope to tell if someone has discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). If you have discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), there is a small chance that you will later get systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). There is no way to know if someone with discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) will get systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
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Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ur-uh-thee-muh-TOH-suhss) refers to skin lesions that appear on parts of the body exposed to sun. The lesions do not cause scarring.
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Drug-Induced Lupus
Drug-induced lupus is a form of lupus caused by medications. The symptoms of drug-induced lupus are similar to those of systemic lupus, but only rarely will any major organs be affected. Symptoms can include:
- Joint pain
- Muscle pain
- Fever
- Rash
- Chest pain
Symptoms are mild for most people. Most of the time, the disease goes away when the medicine is stopped. More men get this type of lupus because the drugs with the highest risk of causing it are used to treat heart conditions that are more common in men, however, not everyone who takes these drugs will develop drug-induced lupus. Many different drugs can cause drug-induced lupus. They include some
- Antiseizure medications
- High blood pressure medications
- Antibiotics and antifungals
- Thyroid medications
- Oral contraceptive pills
The drugs most commonly connected with drug-induced lupus are:
- Procainamide (Pronestyl ®, Procanbid ®)
- Hydralazine (Apresoline ®)
- Hydralazine is an ingredient in Apresazide ® and Bidil ®
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Neonatal Lupus
Neonatal lupus is a rare disease that can occur in newborn babies of women with SLE, Sjögren's syndrome, or no disease at all. Scientists suspect that neonatal lupus is caused in part by autoantibodies in the mother's blood called anti-Ro (SSA) and anti-La (SSB). Autoantibodies ("auto" means self) are blood proteins that act against the body's own parts.
At birth, the infant may have a skin rash, liver problems, or low blood cell counts, but these symptoms disappear completely after several months with no lasting effects.
In rare instances, some babies with neonatal lupus can also have congenital heart block, a serious heart problem in which the formation of fibrous tissue in the baby's heart interferes with the electrical impulses that affect heart rhythm. With proper testing, physicians can now identify most at-risk mothers, and the infant can be treated at or before birth. Neonatal lupus is rare, and most infants of mothers with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are entirely healthy.
All women who are pregnant and known to have anti-Ro (SSA) or anti-La (SSB) antibodies should be monitored by echocardiograms (a test that monitors the heart and surrounding blood vessels) during the 16th and 30th weeks of pregnancy. SLE can also flare during pregnancy, and prompt treatment can keep the mother healthier longer.
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References:
1) National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
February 2007
www.ninds.nih.gov
2) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
March 2009
www.womenshealth.gov
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