Shocking Diseases Men Get – SLE - By Dr. P.T. Ezhil Selvan

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) in Men

Lupus also favors women disproportionately (9:1 female to male), but it is certainly not exclusive.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that produces symptoms throughout the body. Autoimmune diseases develop when the body's natural immune system charged with fighting off invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakes healthy tissue as foreign and mounts an attack. Antibodies, which are the immune cells at the center of the attack, are somehow given faulty instructions. In the case of lupus, these rogue self-attacking antibodies (autoantibodies) attack cells in the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, blood vessels and blood. The cause is unknown but certain environmental experiences and medical conditions seem to trigger the disease in genetically susceptible people.

Why Men too?

Sex-related differences in genes and hormones are also likely at work to explain the disparity between the sexes in lupus, but the picture is fuzzier than for breast cancer. Men with lupus don't have abnormal levels of hormones such as estrogen or testosterone. While it is not yet clear what's at play, men with lupus may metabolize estrogen differently, making them more prone to the disease.

What Raises the Risk in Men?

The factors that raise the risk in men are the same as those in women.

• Ultraviolet rays from the sun or other sources
• Certain medications particularly sun-sensitive antibiotics
• Recreational drugs
• Bacterial or viral infection such a as cold or flu
• Emotional or bodily stress such as pregnancy,                                                     surgery or trauma

What Should Men Do?

Although men experience similar symptoms, they are less likely to report them to their doctor which delays diagnosis and risks more long-term damage to organs. The autoantibodies that cause widespread inflammation and damage throughout the body produce symptoms that depend on where the attack takes place. Although lupus may not be the most logical explanation for many of these symptoms, it makes sense to not dismiss them based on gender, especially since men tend to get harder hit than women.

Here are some of the more common symptoms of lupus in both men and women.

• Joint swelling and pain
• Muscle weakness
• Extreme fatigue
• Unexplained fever
• Butterfly-shaped red rash across the bridge of the nose and cheeks
• Chest pain upon deep breathing
• Hair loss
• Purple fingers or toes when cold (Raynaud's phenomenon)
• Sun sensitivity
• Leg swelling
• Eye puffiness
• Mouth sores
• Swollen glands

Although there is no single test to confirm a diagnosis, a combination of many blood tests and biopsy of affected tissue can point a finger to lupus. Steroids are the mainstay of treatments but there are other effective strategies depending on where in the body the attacks take place. Treatments focus on reducing flare-ups, inflammation and pain.