World Lupus Day: Experts Highlight Role Of Estrogen & X Chromosome

Experts illuminate the pivotal role of estrogen and the X chromosome in women’s susceptibility to lupus, commemorating World Lupus Day. Observed annually on May 10, World Lupus Day aims to raise awareness about this life-altering autoimmune disease, characterized by the body attacking its organs through the production of antibodies.

Symptoms of lupus primarily include fever, fatigue, malar rashes, joint pains, breathlessness, difficulty swallowing, and chest pain.

Known as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), the condition affects millions globally, with 3.2 documented cases per 100,000 individuals in India. Alarmingly, up to 90 percent of SLE cases globally occur in women of reproductive age.

As reported by IANS, Dr. Anu Daber, Senior Consultant Rheumatology at Paras Health Gurugram, emphasized the influence of sex hormones on lupus vulnerability, with estrogen believed to play a pivotal role, particularly in genetically predisposed women.

Furthermore, research underscores the link between X chromosomes in women and lupus development.

Dr. Anu elucidated that the inactivation of one X chromosome in each developing cell, a process known as X-chromosome inactivation, may impact how the immune system identifies threats, potentially leading to autoimmune diseases like lupus.

As reported by IANS, Dr. Prasad Kuvalekar from DPU Super Specialty Hospital, Pune, emphasized lupus’s wide-ranging effects on various organs such as skin, kidneys, heart, brain, joints, lungs, and blood vessels.

With no available vaccines for lupus, early identification remains challenging. However, malar rashes may serve as an early indicator, Dr. Prasad noted.

Individuals with lupus face heightened susceptibility to infections, cancer, and bone tissue death due to impaired immunity from the disease and its treatments. Pregnancy complications also abound, with increased risks of high blood pressure, premature birth, and miscarriage among women with lupus.

Dr. Anu recommended low-impact exercises such as yoga, tai chi, pilates, walking, and swimming.