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A new study suggests that smoking may exacerbate systemic
lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease that disproportionately
affects women, particularly those of child-bearing age and of African
or Asian descent.
Lupus can occur in several forms, but systemic lupus
erythematosus (SLE) is the most serious type.
"This study gives yet another possible reason for
SLE patients to avoid all contact with tobacco and its products,
that is, possibly preventing greater disease activity and poorer
outcome" according to the report in The Journal of Rheumatology.
In the study, Dr. Najeeb O. Ghaussy and colleagues
from the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center in Albuquerque
interviewed 111 lupus patients about their smoking habits.
Current smokers had a "disease activity index" that
was almost 50 percent greater than former smokers and people who
had never smoked. This was true even after they controlled for other
factors that influence the severity of disease, such as alcohol
consumption, ethnicity, education level and income level, according
to the report.
Lupus occurs when a person's immune system mistakenly
attacks the body's own tissue. It is characterized by inflammation
and damage to tissue and organs throughout the body.
The condition can vary widely in severity, manifesting
as skin rash and arthritis or leading to damage to the kidneys,
heart, lungs and brain to varying degrees. There is no cure.
"It is not surprising that cigarettes might have an
effect on the disease activity of SLE, as there are multiple chemical
factors that affect cell growth or viability in cigarette smoke,
including carbon monoxide, cyanide, hydrazine, hydroquinone, and
others," Ghaussy and colleagues conclude.
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