Patient/caregiver were instructed on the pathophysiology of lupus as follows:
- Usually the immune system attacks the various bacteria, viruses, and other invading foreign micro-organisms that enter one’s body and help prevent serious illness.
- In individuals with history of autoimmune conditions, the immune system mistakenly & repeatedly attacks and damages one’s own body tissues and organs. Lupus is an autoimmune condition, where one’s immune system attacks their own body tissues and organs.
- This attack by the immune system can involve many different organs, such as, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain.
- Attack by the immune system can cause injury & inflammation in the affected tissues & organs, and lead to their compromised function.
- Many factors, such as, exposure to environmental allergens, intake of certain medications, exposure to certain infectious diseases, etc., can act as triggers for lupus activation.
- Exposure to various triggers and activation of an inflammatory response can occur in bouts, contributing to periodical flaring-up of lupus episodes.
- Lupus can vary widely among individuals with respect to the triggering factors activating the symptoms, organs involved, extent of organ involvement, and management measures.
