SLE In Men: Insights On A Female-Dominated Disease

What Is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most common autoimmune, systemic rheumatic diseases. It is known to affect the entire body, especially the connective tissue, but may involve organs and organ systems as well.

The patients of SLE may have alternating phases of disease flare-ups, with a span of mild or asymptomatic phases in between. The disease is highly predisposed in women; however, men may also be affected. The disease's effects are often overlooked in a man, often leading to a delayed diagnosis.

Women and men who are black in origin have a greater predilection towards SLE compared to whites. The reasoning for this is not yet certain.

What Causes Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Men?

SLE is a disease where the body’s defense system gets confused. Our body has a smart defense team called the immune system. Its job is to protect us from germs like bacteria and viruses that can make us sick. When germs enter the body, the immune system attacks them and keeps us healthy.

But in lupus, the immune system makes a mistake. Instead of only fighting bad germs, it also attacks healthy parts of the body, like the skin, joints, or organs. This happens because the immune system cannot understand the difference between what is harmful and what is safe. When the body attacks itself like this, it is called an autoimmune disease.

Doctors are not completely sure why this mistake happens. It may be because of things passed down in families (genes), things in the environment, or habits like smoking.

How Common Is SLE in Men?

SLE is uncommon in men. SLE is said to be a female-dominated disease. Out of every 10 people with SLE, nine of them identify as women. This huge difference in sexes is quite dramatic and often leads to an overlooked diagnosis in men.

What Are the Symptoms of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Men?

Symptoms of SLE are generally similar in both men and women. The symptoms in both men and women are found to be similar. However, the severity of certain symptoms affecting the organ systems of the body has been shown to affect men more aggressively than women.

Symptoms of SLE in Men:

• Joint aches and pains.

• Inflammation of the joint and surrounding structures.

• Headache, sometimes accompanied by body aches.

• Extreme fatigue and tiredness.

• Butterfly rash is characterized by a prominent skin rash covering the nose and cheeks.

• Loss of hair.

• Anemia (lower than average count of red blood cells).

• Raynaud’s phenomenon (the extremities of the hands and legs turn blue and cold; tingling sensation present).

• Difficulty in clotting of blood.

• Depending on the severity of the disease, different organs of the body, like the heart, kidneys, or digestive tract, may also show clinical manifestations of SLE.

What Are the Clinical Manifestations of SLE in Men?

Although showing similar symptoms in both men and women, SLE-diagnosed men show a relatively higher mortality rate compared to women. The markedly delayed diagnosis of the disease in men is the culprit here.

The possibility of incidence of SLE in men, though low, is quite there. Due to delayed diagnosis, there is subsequent damage caused to the organ systems of the body over time that may be beyond repair.

The awareness of SLE in men has also been reported to be quite low. Due to this, men with SLE are diagnosed at a much older age than women. Men are found to have a higher rate of end-organ damage than women, owing to a reduced survival rate.

How Does SLE Affect Men’s Mental Health?

Stress has proven to deteriorate the symptoms of SLE, increasing the risk of disease flare-ups. Men have always been known to deal with their emotions in a ‘manly’ way. Society has made it difficult for men to talk about their feelings as openly as women.

Personal problems, work-life problems, or financial crises - men are known to handle it all with a strong facade, neglecting the whirlpool of thoughts encountered internally. Joining a support group that discusses autoimmune disorders and their consequences openly can provide a good prognosis in men with SLE. Encouraging men to be more vulnerable is the key to checking SLE flare-ups associated with declined mental health.

What Is the Treatment of SLE?

No definite cure for SLE has been discovered to date. The only way to manage the disease is to control its flare-ups by following a symptomatic treatment plan that is tailored to the severity level of the disease.

Common Treatment for SLE:

• Administering non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) to address the pain and swelling in joints and surrounding tissues.

• Taking corticosteroids to control the immune response of the body.

• Steroid-containing topical ointments to improve the rashes occurring on the face and body.

• Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) for more severe cases that do not show any improvement with other medications.

Although SLE has not shown any effects on fertility and reproductive ability in men, some medications used to treat lupus may lower the sperm count and cause fertility issues. Keeping a cautious eye on bodily functions is crucial to prevent any serious adverse effects from occurring.

Conclusion

Lupus is often thought of as a woman’s disease, but men can develop it too. Delays in the diagnosis of SLE can lead to serious complications in men. So it is important not to ignore any unusual symptoms similar to those of SLE. If you notice any signs that could be related to systemic lupus erythematosus, speak to a doctor as soon as possible.

Key Takeaways

• Systemic lupus erythematosus is less common in men, but it does not mean that men will not get SLE.

• Symptoms of SLE in men are similar to those in women.

• SLE complications like anemia, blood clots, and organ damage may be more serious in men.