Experimental studies are paving the way for major developments in lupus research, reports HealthDay. Scientists have analyzed the effects of two new treatments that target the immune system response that causes the debilitating disease.

Researchers at the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting reportedly presented their findings regarding the use of vitamin D to treat lupus, as well as a vaccine that fights off interferon alpha, a protein present in the immune system.

“This is an incredibly exciting time in lupus research. The academic and pharmaceutical communities are involved in studies that will hopefully lead to more effective and safer treatments,” Dr. Cynthia Aranow of New York’s Feinstein Institute for Medical Research told the news source.

Lupus is a very difficult condition to treat. It is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy cells. Because this system helps protects the body from infection and other health issues, treatments cannot shut down the immune system entirely, rather scientists must find the proteins that cause lupus to develop.

In the experimental studies, patients who received a high dose of vitamin D weekly for four weeks, then monthly for the following six months, saw their immune cells increase and calcium levels normalize. Interferon alpha (IFNa) was the subject of the second study.

“We were able to demonstrate that the IFNa signature (in excess in lupus patients) can be turned down by vaccinating patients against their own IFNa. [The drug is modified], devoid of IFNa biological activity, but modified in such a way that it becomes recognized by the immune system of the patient,” Dr. Frederic Houssiau, head of rheumatology at the Catholic University of Louvain in Brussels, explained to the news provider.

Further research must be done to confirm the positive results of these studies, but they are a step in the right direction and those suffering from lupus may want to stay tuned.

Here at Healthetreatment, our goal is to provide a forum for users to share their experiences and information. This week on the blog, we begin a new series highlighting our most commonly reported conditions so we can help offer e-patients as much helpful information as possible.

Our top condition is Lupus, or Systemic Lupus, with more than 400 Healthetreatment users reporting their experiences.

Lupus is a chronic auto-immune disease in which one’s immune system attacks the body’s own cells and tissues. Inflammation can occur anywhere in the body as a result, but most often arises in the nervous system, skin, joints, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and heart.

There is no known cause for lupus, however, there are several factors that may contribute to its development. Women have a higher risk for this illness, which is reflected in our database, as 99.3 percent of users with lupus are female. The age group that it affects is typically between 15 and 40, according to the Mayo Clinic, and blacks, Asians and Hispanics are also more susceptible. Environmental conditions may factor in as well, such as exposure to sunlight or chemicals, long-term use of a certain medication or infection with the Epstein-Barr virus.

Lupus is a painful condition, and HeT users report that the symptoms they experience are quite severe, giving most a 4 out of 5 rating. More than 72 percent of users suffer from headaches, while more than 65 percent report muscle weakness and sensitivity to light (photophobia). Other popular symptoms include acid reflux, swollen glands, fatigue, arthritis and pain in the back, joints, muscles, hips and more. Visit our website for more information on lupus symptoms.

In terms of treatments for lupus, the most popularly prescribed (and one of the most effective, as reported by our users) is prednisone, an immunosuppressant drug that provides relief for inflammatory diseases. Nearly 53 percent of users also report using that Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine) is an effective medication. A similar portion of HeT users with lupus say that avoiding sun exposure is one lifestyle change that they have made for their condition.