Lupus tricky to diagnose

Mike Dzikowski

Maria Laynes said lupus is a difficult disease because not many people are aware of it.

Laynes, a licensed rheumatologist, spoke in the Bovee University Center Auditorium Tuesday night as part of Lupus Awareness Week, sponsored by the Organization for Black Unity.

Lupus is an auto-immune disease that causes inflammation in the joints and skin rashes.

An auto-immune disease cannot tell the difference between the cells in the body that are healthy and unhealthy when attacking illness.

“It’s like the body is fighting against itself,” she said.

Laynes said 90 percent of people diagnosed with lupus are women.

Minorities also comprise a large amount of lupus patients.

“Lupus is three times more common in African-Americans,” she said.

The cause of lupus is unknown, but symptoms may include skin rashes, dryness in the mouth and eyes, arthritis, photosensitivity and several disorders with the organs.

It mainly targets the joints, skin and internal organs, Laynes said.

There is no known cure for lupus, but medication can cause the disease to go into remission.

Laynes said the types of medication could range from Advil to something as strong as steroids.

“There are injections and creams that patients can use also,” she said.

One member of the audience reacted positively to the speech.

“I thought it was very informative and I’m glad she broke down the medical terms for us to understand,” said Ketwana Wilson-McCormick, Mount Pleasant junior.

Laynes said she wanted to educate students about lupus, so they can diagnose the symptoms before the disease runs its course.

“It is better to get an early diagnosis than to find out late,” she said.

A rheumatologist is an internist or pediatrician who is qualified by additional training and experience in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles and bones, according to www.rheumatology.org.