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Lupus in Scottsdale, AZ

The Scottsdale Stem Cell Treatment Center offers treatment for lupus to the residents of Scottsdale, Phoenix, and the surrounding Arizona communities.

What Is Lupus?

Lupus is a condition in which the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. In normal, healthy bodies, the immune system generates antibodies that fight off viruses and bacteria that may cause illness. In lupus patients, their bodies’ immune systems cannot tell the difference between healthy and harmful tissues or microorganisms. The antibodies produced by the immune system attack sick and healthy tissues, resulting in painful symptoms such as swelling and inflammation. Over time, lupus damages the heart, lungs, blood, kidneys, joints, and even the skin.

Lupus is categorized into several types, each of which has a unique set of symptoms. The most common, known as SLE, or systemic lupus erythematosus, attacks many different areas of the body at any time and often without warning. Another form of the disease, known as discoid lupus, causes a chronic rash that may be treated but not cured. Sub-acute cutaneous lupus causes blisters and sores after sun exposure, and specific drugs may trigger drug-induced lupus in certain people. Finally, neonatal lupus is very rare and only affects newborn infants. Although the causes of any kind of lupus are not fully known, the disease is thought to be caused by a combination of several factors including heredity, environment, and hormones.

Lupus Causes

Experts believe lupus is caused by a combination of genetics and environment. People who inherit a disposition for lupus begin to develop the disease when environmental triggers activate the disease. In the vast majority of cases, the cause of lupus is unknown. However, some potential triggers are as follows:

  • Infections: An infection can trigger lupus and can cause a relapse of the disease.
  • Medications: Certain types of medication may trigger lupus, such as blood pressure and anti-seizure medications as well as antibiotics. Individuals who experience lupus triggered by a medication will normally see their symptoms go away when they stop taking the medication.
  • Sunlight: Can cause lupus skin lesions or initiate an internal response in individuals who are susceptible to this disease.

Lupus Symptoms

The exact symptoms of lupus vary greatly from person to person, and, for this reason, the condition is very difficult to diagnose. Symptoms may be mild to severe and often appear in flares. Sometimes the symptoms disappear completely between flares, and in other cases, symptoms may simply fade. The most common symptoms in lupus patients include the following:

  • Headaches, confusion, and mild to severe memory loss
  • Reynaud’s phenomenon in which fingers and toes tend to turn blue or white when exposed to cold or when the patient is stressed
  • Skin lesions that appear or worsen with exposure to the sun
  • Shortness of breath and chest pain
  • Dry eyes
  • Stiffness, swelling, and/or pain in joints
  • Fatigue
  • Unexplained fever
  • Rash on the face covering the cheeks and the bridge of the nose resembling a butterfly

Lupus Treatment

The goal of lupus treatment is symptom management since there is no known cure for the disease. However, one of the most promising treatments is STV, or Stromal Vascular Fraction, in which liposuction is used to collect small amounts of body fat. The fat contains stem cells, which promote the growth of healthy tissues throughout the body. When applied cautiously, SVF allows doctors to regulate the body’s immune system, thereby reducing the symptoms and severity of lupus. Patients with SLE have fully recovered from their lupus symptoms after several rounds of STV treatment.

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of SLE, please contact us at Scottsdale Stem Cell to find out whether STV or another form of stem cell treatment is right for you and your unique condition.

Written by Scottsdale Stem Cell Center