Rhupus

[Buglove22]

I have rhupus which is lupus and severe rheumatoid. arthritis having both and it being aggressive there r only 1% to 2% in the world that ever have both I guess I was just the lucky one lol unfortunately this is the most painful disease in the world you get never get over less your bones hurt so bad you just about crying cuz you got to stand up

[lupus-support1 Administrator]

I am sorry to read your story.

For those who have never come across Rhupus:

Rhupus syndrome, a rare coexistence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis, is characterized by symmetrical erosive polyarthritis and permanent deformities in addition to the clinical and serological characteristics of SLE. Its prognosis is further complicated by neurological and hematological involvement, which dramatically lowers patients' perceptions of their quality of life in terms of their health. Rhupus individuals have significantly less kidney involvement than SLE patients do.

Although systemic autoimmune disorders have defined diagnostic criteria and guidelines, up to 25% of patients with these symptoms go misdiagnosed and develop full-blown disease, with flares and complications brought on by incomplete or delayed treatment. Having multiple rheumatic diseases in one person makes the diagnosis more challenging. Several types of overlap syndrome are documented in the literature. While two or more conditions may coexist, one disease often has the clinical upper hand. Rhupus syndrome, which combines the clinical and laboratory aspects of rheumatic arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is one of the uncommon and sporadically documented overlaps. SLE and RA are systemic autoimmune rheumatic illnesses that affect multiple organs and systems and have unique clinical and serological traits.

The term Rhupus was used for the first time in the year 1971 to refer to this condition. The prevalence of Rhupus syndrome has been estimated to be around 0.01% to 2% of patients with rheumatic diseases. It has been defined as a deforming and erosive symmetric polyarthritis accompanied by symptoms of SLE and the presence of antibodies such as anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), anti-Smith, and rheumatoid factor (RF) with or without anti-cyclic citrullinated peptides (anti-CCP) antibody [2,3]. Typical arthritis associated with SLE is rarely erosive and differs from RA [3,4]. Unlike SLE patients, Rhupus patients have significantly less kidney involvement, while no differences have been observed between neuropsychiatric, cutaneous, and hematological involvement or serositis.

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl....

[Buglove22 in reply to lupus-support1]

Thank you it's very hard cause my fingers and toes are really bad I can only bend one finger half way on each hand the other fingers won't bend and my pointer finger is stiff and deformed looks like a up and down road lol my feet have growed different direction so I'm not balance when I walk I have to use a cane it's hard my toes have growed over each other so wearing shoes hurts I'm not able to wear clothes that have button's can't bend fingers go button anything so only stretch clothes and opening stuff forget that cause no strength to open jars stuff like mayo lids no I barely can open a bag of chips but I'm not giving up I will get stronger every day

[lupus-support1 Administrator in reply to Buglove22]

You have a positive attitude which is important. I sympathize because my right hand is unusable. I am seeing a hand surgeon who can repair the damage. I encourage you to see one!

With good wishes,

Ros

[Buglove22 in reply to lupus-support1]

My bones have fused they are stiff unable to bend and one finger so no surgery can fix this they said I the worst case they seem cause my dieses hit me so fast it made me bed ridden and destroyed my bones within 6 months it's crazy and took them 4 , months to diagnosed that I had severe rheumatoid arthritis

See how bad my fingers are the bone is coming out the bottom

[lupus-support1 Administrator in reply to Buglove22]

Given what you have said, I would ask your doctor to send a to a specialist unit. To take 4 months without doing anything is frankly unacceptable. You need a specialist.

[Poshcards]

Hi, I have SLE with RA overlap but i have never had it referred as Rhupus, hope things start getting easier for you xx