Immunologists have discovered that post earthquake traumas have worsened the conditions of lupus patients in central Taiwan -- the area most severely affected by the killer temblor of Sept. 21, 1999.
Lupus is a chronic antoimmune disease whose cause remains unknown. The name "lupus" is Latin for "wolf" and refers to the skin rashes which appear on the faces of sufferers. About 90 percent of sufferers are females in their 20s.
Antigens, including bacteria, viruses and other foreign materials, are all suspected causes of the disease. Environmental, hormonal and genetic factors that weaken the immune system's ability to fight such antigens are thought to trigger the disease.
Lupus sufferers are affected by the body failing to resist invasion of certain antigens, which attack and cause changes to cells or tissues in the body, and the immune system treats these tissues or cells as foreign bodies and attacks them.
Stress is suggested as a possible cause of the disease because it weakens the body's resistance to antigens.
The resulting dysfunction can cause inflammation and damage to the skin, blood, joints, lungs and kidneys. There is as yet no cure for lupus.
Chou Chung-tei (
Data gathered from 60 patients in central Taiwan shows inferior living conditions and heightened stress levels as a result of the earthquake had worsened the sufferers' conditions.
The earthquake claimed nearly 2,400 lives and left roughly 1,400 people critically injured. It has been estimated to have caused NT$292 billion worth of damage.
The research has found cases of obvious worsening of lupus after the earthquake with evidence of more joint pains, rashes and photosensitivity.
Some also had symptoms of increased protein loss and edema.
Five of these cases were hospitalized with high fever and declining kidney function. All these symptoms indicate worsening of the disease.
Chou said the worsening of these patients' conditions resulted from post-earthquake traumas that intensified stress levels.
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