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 heart muscle and lining around the heart can result in increased fluid accumulation around the heart, poor cardiac function, reduced ability of heart on pumping blood, and consequent reduced blood supply to all essential organs, thus affecting their overall function. Involvement of blood vessels supplying the heart muscle can result in episodes of severe chest pain and myocardial infarction (heart attack).
- Progressive inflammatory damage to the skeletal structures, such as bone tissue and joints, can result in inflammation of the involved bones and joints, with persistent swelling of the affected limbs, and stiffness in the joints with limited range of motion. This can contribute to limitation of individual independence on overall ADL/IADL performance and activity.
- Progressive inflammatory damage to the blood vessels can result in increased risk for episodes of internal bleeding, narrowing of blood vessels, poor blood pressure control, compromised blood circulation to essential organs, and formation of blood clots.
- Progressive inflammatory damage to the kidneys and renal structures can result in episodes of abdominal discomfort, loin pain, and compromised blood supply to the kidneys & filtering units in the kidneys. This can contribute to compromised kidney function and renal failure with back-up and retention of fluid & wastes in the body. Reduced renal function in these individuals can also contribute to poor blood pressure regulation and consequently, increased risk for stroke.
