Can systemic lupus and/or the medications used to treat lupus affect the liver?

Yes. Lupus can be accompanied by nonspecific liver inflammation, but fortunately this rarely progresses to serious form of liver damage such as cirrhosis. There is condition named autoimmune liver disease which can progress and is associated with presence in the blood of autoantibodies such as anti smooth muscle and anti liverkidney microsomal antibody. Additionally, lupus patients can develop nodular regenerative hyperplasia which can produce noncirrhotic portal hypertension with esophageal varices and splenomegaly, Finally, many medications can produce liver damage, mild to moderate to sever, which is more likely if there is preexisint liver disease or alcohol abuse-especially binge tricking andjustifies close monitoring through periodic blood testing for liver abnormalities whenever a lupus patient is requiring chronic medication.

Yes, some of the medications, especially when used over a length of time, can be detrimental to your liver or other organs, but, to state it simply, the risks to your liver, etc., is not as important as the treatment for your Lupus. Sometimes you have to weigh the risks, and this is one of those situation. A good source for information is the Lupus Foundation of America. Their website can be found at http://www.lupus.org/newsite/index.html. Be well!

Can systemic lupus and/or the medications used to treat lupus affect the liver?

Related Questions