Partial lupus remission is common but temporary, with symptoms eventually returning. Total remission is rare, with most patients experiencing shorter periods of remission followed by flare-ups. Lupus is treatable, but patients must take care of their overall health. Flare-ups can be triggered by sunlight, illness, stress, or pregnancy, and their duration is unpredictable.
Partial lupus remission, which is a period in which a person experiences relief from lupus symptoms, is considered common. Unfortunately, partial remission from lupus is only temporary, and symptoms eventually return. Total remission, also called sustained remission, occurs when a person experiences lupus inactivity that lasts for several years at a time or even for the rest of the patient’s life. It is extremely rare for lupus patients to experience total remission. More commonly, lupus patients experience shorter periods of lupus remission followed by symptom flare-ups.
It is considered common and normal for a person with lupus to have short-term periods of remission. For example, a person with this condition might go months feeling better and notice a significant improvement in their symptoms. Unfortunately, however, this period of feeling better doesn’t last indefinitely, and most people have flare-ups as well. During periods of flare-ups, a person’s symptoms often worsen and they may feel sick for a significant amount of time.
Lupus occurs as a result of a person’s immune system malfunctioning. It develops when the body cannot distinguish between a harmful foreign invader and its own tissues. If so, the autoantibodies attack these healthy tissues and destroy them, causing the symptoms of lupus. Symptoms can vary, but can include fatigue, fever, and weight loss, as well as joint stiffness, skin breakdown, hair loss, and pain.
Fortunately, lupus is a treatable condition and those who suffer from it are usually able to lead normal lives. That doesn’t mean, however, that it’s not a serious condition. Most people with lupus need to take care of their overall health to minimize symptoms.
An individual in lupus remission may suddenly have a flare-up of symptoms. There are many triggers that seem to stimulate flare-ups. For example, some people experience flare-ups after significant exposure to sunlight, after falling ill with another condition, and during times of stress. Often, pregnant women also experience flare-ups.
Flare-ups can be particularly daunting, especially since patients have no way of knowing how long they will last. Doctors cannot predict how long a person will feel sick or have significant symptoms. The same goes for remission. There is no way for doctors to tell how long periods of remission will last before flare-ups occur again. In some cases, patients look forward to their next remission period, but end up waiting for years.
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