TLDR A woman with lupus had muscle weakness due to kidney issues and was successfully treated with medication.
A 30-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presented with recurrent hypokalemic periodic quadriparesis and symptoms including joint pain, oral ulcers, photosensitivity, and hair loss. She was diagnosed with distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) and successfully treated with oral potassium chloride, sodium bicarbonate, hydroxychloroquine, and a short course of steroids. This case highlighted the importance of assessing tubular dysfunction in SLE patients, as renal involvement in SLE is typically glomerulonephritis, making isolated tubular dysfunction a rare but significant finding.
3 citations,
March 2021 in “Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology” Early treatment of Lupus Erythematosus Alopecia can prevent permanent hair loss, and various medications are effective.
June 2023 in “F1000Research” A young woman with lupus developed tuberculosis due to weakened immunity from her medication, showing the need for better TB screening in such patients.
January 2023 in “Skin appendage disorders” Hair loss is common in autoimmune diseases and can be an early sign of the condition, often requiring prompt treatment to prevent permanent damage.
54 citations,
April 2011 in “Journal of Multidisciplinary Healthcare” SLE patients often face depression and anxiety due to physical changes, with African-American and Hispanic patients having higher unmet psychological needs.
46 citations,
January 2015 in “Pediatric Rheumatology” Skin symptoms are important for diagnosing and managing juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus and usually get better with treatment.
November 2019 in “Harper's Textbook of Pediatric Dermatology” The document is a detailed medical reference on skin and genetic disorders.
