Lupus Specialist
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Rheumatology Clinic of DFW, PLLC
Rosy Rajbhandary, MD
Board Certified Rheumatologist located in Burleson, TX
Unlike most other autoimmune disorders that target specific systems or organs, lupus affects multiple parts of the body. If you have lupus or symptoms of this condition, double board-certified rheumatologist Rosy Rajbhandary, MD, at Rheumatology Clinic of DFW, PLLC, in Burleson, Texas, can help. Dr. Rajbhandary uses advanced, holistic approaches to manage lupus symptoms and help prevent potentially life-threatening organ damage. To benefit from her expertise in treating lupus, call the office or book an appointment online today.
Lupus Q & A
What is lupus?
Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE) is a chronic health condition that causes inflammation in many parts of your body, such as your skin, joints, lungs, heart, kidneys, and brain. Lupus symptoms vary between patients, but common ones include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Skin rashes
- Joint pain
- Appetite loss
- Hair loss
- Photosensitivity
- Mouth ulcers
- Swelling in your legs or around the eyes
You might also get a rash on your face in the shape of a butterfly.
What complications can lupus cause?
Lupus can trigger numerous complications, including:
Pericarditis
Pericarditis is inflammation of the sac surrounding your heart.
Pleuritis
Pleuritis is inflammation of the thin layer of tissue (pleura) lining your lungs and chest wall. It can cause acute chest pain that worsens when you breathe.
Vasculitis
Vasculitis is blood vessel inflammation that can cause the vessels to get thicker, narrower, or weaker, and lead to scarring and organ damage.
Scleroderma
Scleroderma results in your skin and connective tissues becoming too tight.
Sjögren's syndrome
Sjögren's syndrome makes your mouth and eyes dry and irritated.
The effects of lupus can be mild in some patients and potentially life-threatening for others. You're likely to experience worsening symptoms at times (known as flare-ups) with periods in between when the condition is less severe.
What causes lupus?
Lupus develops because of a problem with the way your immune system works.
When potentially dangerous organisms enter your body, like viruses and harmful bacteria, your immune system identifies them and produces antibodies to destroy them. This helps you recover from illnesses and, in many cases, protects you from getting sick in the first place.
When you have lupus, your immune system attacks cells all around your body as though they were a danger to your health. Unlike other autoimmune disorders, which target specific systems, tissues, or organs in your body, lupus affects many organs and tissues.
How is lupus treated?
While there's no cure for lupus, Dr. Rajbhandary can help you manage your condition, relieve many of the symptoms, and reduce the risk of organ damage.
Antimalarial drugs like hydroxychloroquine effectively reduce lupus symptoms, and you might benefit from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to control the inflammation and pain. If the NSAIDs aren't sufficient, you may need more powerful corticosteroid anti-inflammatories.
One of the keys to treating severe lupus successfully is suppressing your overactive immune response. Dr. Rajbhandary achieves this with immunosuppressant medications. Another approach to treating lupus is with the biologic medication belimumab.
If you have symptoms that could be due to lupus, or you have lupus and are struggling to cope, call Rheumatology Clinic of DFW, PLLC, today or book an appointment online.
