Patient/caregiver were instructed on complications of recurrent lupus activation as follows:
- Lupus can vary widely among individuals with respect to the factors triggering the lupus response, organs involved, and extent of organ involvement.
- This variation in organs involved and extent of involvement contributes to the difference in complications presenting over a period of time.
- Individuals with history of poorly controlled lupus can present with the following complications:
- Progressive inflammatory damage to the lung tissue and lining around can result in increased fluid accumulation in the chest cavity, difficulty breathing, reduced oxygenation, and increased risk for chest infections.
- Progressive inflammatory damage to the red, white, and platelet cells in blood can result in anemia, increased risk for infection, and episodes of internal bleeding.
- Inflammatory damage to the brain and spinal cord structures can result in episodes of headaches, dizziness, confusion, back pain, and neuropathy. Recurrent damage to the nervous tissues with unresolved lupus activity can result in altered thought processes, mood & behavior changes, seizures, and progressive memory loss leading to dementia. Progressive inflammatory damage to the nerve tissues can also result in decreased or altered sensitivity to temperature changes, position changes, etc., resulting in increased risk for skin integrity, poor balance, accidents, and falls. Progressive involvement of nerve tissue controlling vision and hearing can lead to diminishing vision and hearing function. Progressive inflammatory damage to the blood vessels in the brain can result in increased risk for bleeding and stroke.
- Multiple organ & tissue involvement over recurrent bouts of lupus activation can lead to exhaustion, fatigue, and progressive loss of organ function.
