Lupus Erythematosus - Symptoms - Photosensitivity

Photosensitivity

Photosensitivity is a known symptom of lupus, but its relationship to and influence on other aspects of the disease remain to be defined. Causes of photosensitivity may include:

  • change in autoantibody location
  • cytotoxicity
  • inducing apoptosis with autoantigens in apoptotic blebs
  • upregulation of adhesion molecules and cytokines
  • inducing nitric oxide synthase expression
  • ultraviolet-generated antigenic DNA.

Tumor necrosis factor alpha also seems to play a role in the development of photosensitivity.

Read more about this topic:  Lupus Erythematosus, Symptoms