It is believed that many people are living with lupus, although the problem is usually misdiagnosed. Lupus in Tampa has experienced professionals that diagnose and treat this autoimmune disease and have helped many women and men to find relief.
What is lupus?
Lupus is a chronic disease causing inflammation within the body. It is a localized condition, so it is not systematic. Autoimmune disease is a problem in the body’s immune system that is responsible for its cells’ breakdown and inflammation.
Most people having lupus experience a slight version of it, but it can be serious without proper treatment. Initially, there is no cure for lupus, and treatment focuses on relieving symptoms and inflammation.
Diagnosis
It is difficult to diagnose lupus because signs and symptoms differ from person to person. The combination of urine and blood test, physical examination findings, and signs and symptoms leads to the diagnosis.
- Laboratory tests
Urine and blood test may include:
Complete blood count. It measures the number of platelets, white blood cells, red blood cells, and hemoglobin, a protein in the red blood cells. The result can suggest you have anemia that normally occurs in lupus. Low platelet and white blood cells can also lead to lupus.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate. This test evaluates the rate at which red blood cells take to settle at the bottom of a tube in one hour. A rate that is faster than the normal can show a systematic disease, like lupus. The sedimentation rate is not precise for any disease. It can be raised if you have lupus, cancer, an inflammatory condition, or an infection.
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test. It is a positive test for antibodies produced by the immune system; it indicates a stimulated immune system. Most people having lupus test positive for ANA test, and many people with a positive ANA don’t have lupus. If you are tested positive for ANA, the doctor might recommend more-specific antibody testing.
- Imaging tests
If the doctor thinks that the lupus is affecting the heart or lungs, he might suggest:
Chest X-ray. Your chest image can show abnormal shadows, which suggest inflammation or fluid in the lungs.
Echocardiogram. The test involves sound waves to produce images of your heartbeat. It checks for problems in the valves and other parts of the heart.
- Biopsy
Lupus can damage the kidneys in more different ways, and treatments can differ according to the damage type. In most cases, it is important to test a sample of kidney tissue to evaluate which treatment is best. The sample can be received through a small incision or a needle. Skin biopsy is often performed to check a diagnosis of lupus on the skin.
If you suspect you might have lupus, visit a health center and run some tests to be on the safer side. Lupus can damage your blood cells, and this should be remedied. Book an appointment with the Osteoporosis and Rheumatology Center to gather more information on lupus condition.
