Lupus: Know the disease that forced Selena Gomez to undergo a transplant

After last week's revelation that Lady Gaga was diagnosed with a chronic condition called fibromyalgia, it was reported that another music star also had problems due to another chronic condition. This time it was Selena Gomez who announced that she had recently undergone kidney transplantation due to complications caused by lupus, a condition she was diagnosed with in 2013.

I'm very aware some of my fans had noticed I was laying low for part of the summer and questioning why I wasn't promoting my new music, which I was extremely proud of. So I found out I needed to get a kidney transplant due to my Lupus and was recovering. It was what I needed to do for my overall health. I honestly look forward to sharing with you, soon my journey through these past several months as I have always wanted to do with you. Until then I want to publicly thank my family and incredible team of doctors for everything they have done for me prior to and post-surgery. And finally, there are no words to describe how I can possibly thank my beautiful friend Francia Raisa. She gave me the ultimate gift and sacrifice by donating her kidney to me. I am incredibly blessed. I love you so much sis. Lupus continues to be very misunderstood but progress is being made. For more information regarding Lupus please go to the Lupus Research Alliance website: www.lupusresearch.org/ -by grace through faith

A post shared by Selena Gomez (@selenagomez) on Sep 14, 2017 at 3:07 PDT

Selena told fans what had happened through an Instagram post - in which she revealed that she received the kidney from her good friend Francia Raisa and was recovering well from the surgery. But what is the condition that forced the artist to go through such a procedure? Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that it causes the immune system to attack the body's own tissues and organs.

Chronic disease

This condition is characterized by being a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect organs and systems of the human body including the lungs, the heart, the brain, the skin, the joints, the blood cells and of course the kidneys. Unfortunately, there is no cure for lupus, and to make matters worse, as the main symptoms resemble those of other diseases, it is not always easy to diagnose the disorder.

One of the most common symptoms of the disease is the appearance of a rash on the face that resembles the wings of a butterfly extending over the cheeks - but it is important to note that this skin irritation does not always always indicate the presence of lupus. Other symptoms associated with the condition are joint swelling, pain, fever, tiredness, shortness of breath, chest and headaches, mental confusion, memory loss, skin damage from sun exposure and dry eyes, among others. .

With regard to what causes lupus, experts believe the condition affects people with a genetic predisposition and can be triggered by a combination of external factors such as infections, sun exposure and the use of certain medications. In addition, there are also risk factors such as age, ethnicity and gender of those affected.

Lupus can affect people of all ages, but the diagnosis is more common in individuals between 15 and 40 years old. The disease is also more prevalent in Hispanics, blacks and Asians, and 90% of patients are women. Because of the large number of female afflicted women, experts suspect that hormones - especially estrogen - may play an important role in the onset of the condition.

Kidney problems

According to surveys, one of the most common problems associated with lupus is kidney problems, so much so that 80% of children diagnosed with lupus and about half of adults suffer from kidney complications. This is because the disorder, in addition to causing the swelling of these organs, can cause damage to small blood vessels called glomeruli that are responsible for filtering out impurities present in the blood.

Although many kidney complications can be treated with medications, about 30% of patients end up with inflammation that leads to kidney failure and the need for kidney transplantation. And, as you know, anyone undergoing this type of medical procedure should take drugs for the rest of their lives to prevent donor organs from being rejected.

Regarding treatment for lupus, symptoms are usually kept under control with the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, corticosteroids, immunosuppressants, and medications commonly used to treat malaria. In addition, it is recommended that diagnosed patients avoid excessive sun exposure and it is very important that they adopt a healthy lifestyle in which they eat a balanced diet and engage in regular physical activity.