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A recent study published in the journal eClinicalMedicine reveals significant findings about the early symptoms of lupus and other systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases. The research, conducted by a team from Cambridge University, involved surveys and interviews with a diverse group of patients and clinicians, shedding light on the potential early indicators of disease progression.
The study surveyed 676 individuals living with lupus and 400 clinicians. In addition, detailed interviews were conducted with 69 patients living with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including lupus, and 50 clinicians. The results highlight disrupted dream sleep as the most common symptom experienced by patients, with three in five reporting such disturbances. Alarmingly, a third of these patients developed lupus disease a year later.
Another key finding was the prevalence of hallucinations, reported by just under one in four patients. These were seen in 85 percent of people with lupus, underscoring the significance of neurological symptoms in this patient group.
Furthermore, the study found that three in five lupus patients and one in three with other rheumatology-related conditions experienced increasingly disrupted dreaming sleep—typically vivid and distressing nightmares—preceding their hallucinations. These nightmares often involved scenarios of being attacked, trapped, crushed, or falling, adding to the distress and anxiety of the patients.
Melanie Sloan from Cambridge University’s Department of Public Health and Primary Care, the lead author of the study, emphasized the importance of open communication between doctors and patients regarding these symptoms. “Patients often know which symptoms are a bad sign that their disease is about to flare, but both patients and doctors can be reluctant to discuss mental health and neurological symptoms, particularly if they don’t realize that these can be a part of autoimmune diseases,” Sloan stated.
Sloan called on clinicians to engage in more in-depth conversations with their patients about such symptoms and meticulously document each patient’s progression. This approach could lead to earlier interventions and potentially better outcomes for those living with lupus and other systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases.
The study’s findings underscore the need for heightened awareness and proactive management of mental health and neurological symptoms in autoimmune disease care, paving the way for improved patient outcomes and quality of life.
