autoimmune disease blog

There are four types of lupus disease. Although similar, each type of lupus has a different cause and treatment.

1. Discoid lupus erythematosus or cutaneous lupus. This type affects only the skin. People with discoid lupus, experience a circular rash on the neck, face and scalp. Some of people with discoid lupus may develop systemic lupus erythematosus, though it is not possible to calculate who will develop severe form of lupus.
2. Systemic lupus erythematosus. The body systems most commonly involved includes the kidneys, skin, blood, joints, and lungs. It can affect nearly any part of your body. When people talk about lupus, they’re usually referring to systemic lupus erythematosus.
3. Neonatal lupus. A mother with certain antibodies that are linked to autoimmune diseases can pass them to the developing fetus, even if the mother has no signs or symptoms of an autoimmune disease. This is a rare form of lupus that affects newborn babies. The antibodies can cause neonatal lupus. A baby with neonatal lupus may experience a rash in the weeks following birth for last several months before the disease is disappearing.
4. Drug-induced lupus erythematosus. It can occur after some people take certain prescription medication. Antibiotic drugs such as, amoxicillin, ampicillin, and cloxacillin or sulfa drugs such as trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, sulfisoxazole, and sulfasalazine may cause lupus. Not everyone who takes these medications develops lupus. Signs and symptoms usually go away when the taking of the medication is stopped.