All you need to know about: Lupus Premium

Comprehensive overview of lupus in India, symptoms, treatment, and challenges faced in diagnosis and management.

While the general prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in India is reported as 3.2 per 100,000 population, specific data on various types of lupus within India are limited. Studies on SLE in India have primarily focused on the overall disease prevalence and its clinical features. 

According to studies, lupus care in India faces challenges related to access, cost and awareness. Specifically, limited access to specialised rheumatologists, financial burdens, and inadequate insurance coverage contribute to difficulties in diagnosis and management. Furthermore, stigmas associated with chronic illnesses and lack of awareness among healthcare providers and the public can lead to delays in seeking medical help.

Lupus is a long-term, progressive autoimmune disease in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue throughout the body.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), lupus can affect any part of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain. The World Health Organization (WHO) notes that lupus involves chronic stimulation of the immune system, and its exact cause remains unknown. The Lancetdescribes lupus as a multisystemic autoimmune disease marked by the presence of autoantibodies against nuclear antigens, immune complex deposition, and chronic inflammation -- primarily affecting classic target organs like the skin, joints, and kidneys

Lupus, has several forms, with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) being the most common and serious type. Other forms include Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (CLE), which primarily affects the skin. Within CLE, there are further subtypes like Discoid Lupus Erythematosus (DLE), which is characterised by circular lesions, and Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus (SCLE), which often presents with rashes and joint pain. Drug-induced lupus can occur as a side effect of certain medications, while neonatal lupus affects newborns.

Signs and symptoms of lupus can be wide-ranging and unpredictable.

It is a highly variable disease. This means that the symptoms, their severity, and the way the disease progresses can differ significantly from person to person -- with some experiencing mild symptoms and others facing life-threatening complications.