Lupus
Steps Involved in IVF:
Procedure Description
Lupus is a complex autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissues, leading to inflammation and damage in various parts of the body, including the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain. The disease is categorized primarily into four types: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Cutaneous Lupus, Drug-Induced Lupus, and Neonatal Lupus, with SLE being the most common and severe. Due to its varying symptoms and severity, lupus requires a multi-faceted approach for diagnosis and treatment.
The treatment of lupus is not a single procedure but a comprehensive medical management strategy tailored to the patient's specific symptoms and disease activity. The primary goals of lupus treatment are to reduce inflammation, suppress the overactive immune response, prevent flare-ups, and manage symptoms. Treatment options range from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antimalarial drugs like hydroxychloroquine to corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents. In some cases, patients may require biologic therapies, such as B-cell targeted therapies, to control the disease.
Lupus treatment also encompasses lifestyle management, including dietary modifications, stress management, and regular physical activity. Patients often require frequent consultations with a multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals, including rheumatologists, dermatologists, nephrologists, and physical therapists, to address the systemic nature of the disease. Due to lupus's chronic nature, patients and healthcare providers work closely to adapt treatment plans based on the disease's progression and patient responses to therapy.
Procedure Duration
The duration of lupus treatment varies significantly depending on the patient's symptoms, disease severity, and the response to treatments. Initial diagnosis and evaluation may take several weeks or even months, involving comprehensive medical history, physical examinations, laboratory tests, and imaging studies. Once lupus is diagnosed, patients usually start with medications that control symptoms and prevent organ damage.
The first phase of treatment typically involves controlling acute symptoms, such as joint pain, fatigue, skin rashes, and inflammation. This phase may require regular doctor visits, medication adjustments, and lifestyle changes. Acute management might last from a few weeks to several months, depending on the patient's condition and how quickly the medications begin to take effect.
Long-term management of lupus is ongoing and may continue for several years or even a lifetime. Maintenance therapy aims to prevent flare-ups, manage chronic symptoms, and minimize side effects of prolonged medication use. Regular follow-ups, including lab tests and physical assessments, are crucial to monitor the disease's progression and adjust treatment plans as needed. While some patients may experience periods of remission, where symptoms are minimal or absent, lupus generally requires lifelong medical attention and monitoring.
Benefits
- Comprehensive Disease Control: Tailored treatments help manage a range of lupus symptoms, reducing the risk of complications.
- Improved Quality of Life: Effective management of lupus symptoms allows patients to maintain an active and fulfilling lifestyle.
- Reduced Flare-Ups: Early and consistent treatment minimizes the frequency and severity of lupus flare-ups.
- Organ Protection: Proper treatment can prevent long-term damage to vital organs, including the kidneys, heart, and lungs.
- Personalized Care: A multidisciplinary approach ensures that all aspects of the patient's health are addressed, providing holistic management of the disease.
Potential Destinations
- Spain: Known for its advanced healthcare system and experienced specialists in autoimmune diseases, Spain offers comprehensive lupus care with a focus on patient-centered treatment. Medical tourists benefit from high-quality care at affordable prices, especially in cities like Barcelona and Madrid.
- India: India is a popular destination for lupus treatment due to its state-of-the-art hospitals and cost-effective medical services. Renowned for its skilled rheumatologists, India provides extensive treatment options, including cutting-edge biologic therapies, in cities like New Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore.
- Germany: With its world-class healthcare infrastructure and expertise in autoimmune disorders, Germany is a prime destination for lupus treatment. The country offers innovative treatment options and personalized care plans, with a strong emphasis on research-backed therapies.
- Turkey: Turkey's healthcare system is well-regarded for its modern facilities and highly trained medical professionals. Its strategic location and relatively lower treatment costs make Turkey an attractive option for medical tourists seeking lupus care.
- Thailand: Known for its medical tourism-friendly environment, Thailand provides advanced lupus treatment at competitive prices. Bangkok and other major cities are equipped with internationally accredited hospitals offering comprehensive diagnostic and therapeutic services.
Risks & Considerations
- Medication Side Effects: Many lupus medications, especially corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs, carry the risk of side effects, including increased susceptibility to infections, osteoporosis, and gastrointestinal issues.
- Disease Flare-Ups: Despite treatment, lupus is prone to flare-ups, which can be triggered by stress, infections, or changes in medication. Patients must be vigilant and work closely with healthcare providers to manage these episodes.
- Organ Damage: If not managed properly, lupus can lead to long-term damage to organs such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain. Regular monitoring is essential to prevent or minimize such complications.
- Access to Specialist Care: Comprehensive lupus management requires access to a multidisciplinary team of specialists, which may not be available in all medical tourism destinations.
- Travel Risks: Long-distance travel can pose challenges for lupus patients, such as exposure to infections, changes in climate, and the physical strain of travel. Pre-travel consultations with healthcare providers are necessary to ensure safety.
How to Choose the Right Doctor and Hospital
When selecting a healthcare provider for lupus treatment, it is crucial to choose a hospital or clinic that has a multidisciplinary team of specialists experienced in managing autoimmune diseases. Look for facilities that are internationally accredited and known for their expertise in rheumatology. Additionally, hospitals offering advanced diagnostic and therapeutic options, including biologic therapies, should be prioritized to ensure the best possible care.
Patients should seek out doctors who are not only highly trained in autoimmune diseases but also have a patient-centered approach. This means the doctor should be willing to collaborate with other specialists to provide comprehensive care. Verifying the doctor's qualifications, experience in treating lupus, and approach to disease management can help ensure that patients receive the most appropriate and effective treatment for their condition.
To receive a free quote for this procedure please click on the link: https://www.medicaltourism.com/get-a-quote
Patients are advised to seek hospitals that are accredited by Global Healthcare and only work with medical tourism facilitators who are certified by Global Healthcare Accreditation or who have undergone certification from the Certified Medical Travel Professionals (CMTP). This ensures that the highest standards in the industry are met. GHA accredits the top hospitals in the world. These are the best hospitals in the world for quality and providing the best patient experience. Click the link to check out hospitals accredited by the Global Healthcare Accreditation: https://www.globalhealthcareaccreditation.com
Frequently Asked Questions
What actually happens during hyperstimulation of the ovaries?
The patient will take injectable FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) for eight to eleven days, depending on how long the follicles take to mature. This hormone is produced naturally in a woman’s body causing one egg to develop per cycle. Taking the injectable FSH causes several follicles to develop at once, at approximately the same rate. The development is monitored with vaginal ultrasounds and following the patient’s levels of estradiol and progesterone. FSH brand names include Repronex, Follistim, Menopur, Gonal-F and Bravelle. The patient injects herself daily.
What happens during egg retrieval?
When the follicles have developed enough to be harvested, the patient attends an appointment where she is anesthetized and prepared for the procedure. Next, the doctor uses an ultrasound probe to guide a needle through the vaginal wall and into the follicle of the ovary. The thin needle draws the follicle fluid, which is then examined by an embryologist to find the eggs. The whole process takes about 20 minutes.
What happens to the eggs?
In the next step, the harvested eggs are then fertilized. If the sperm from the potential father, or in some cases, anonymous donor, has normal functionality, the eggs and sperm are placed together in a dish with a nutrient fluid, then incubated overnight to fertilize normally. If the sperm functionality is suboptimal, an embryologist uses Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection to inject a single sperm into a single egg with an extremely precise glass needle. Once fertilization is complete, the embryos are assessed and prepared to be transferred to the patient’s uterus.
How are the embryos transferred back to the uterus?
The doctor and the patient will discuss the number of embryos to be transferred. The number of successfully fertilized eggs usually determines the number of eggs to be placed in the uterus. Embryos are transferred to the uterus with transabdominal ultrasound guidance. This process does not require anesthesia, but it can cause minor cervical or uterine discomfort. Following transfer, the patient is advised to take at least one days bed rest and two or three additional days of rest, then 10 to 12 days later, two pregnancy tests are scheduled to confirm success. Once two positive tests are completed, an obstetrical ultrasound is ordered to show the sac, fetal pole, yolk sac and fetal heart rate.
Embryoscope©
Built into this technology there is a microscope with a powerful camera that allows the uninterrupted monitoring of the embryo during its first hours of life. In this way, we can keep a close eye on the embryo, from the moment when the oocyte is inseminated and begins to divide into smaller and smaller cells, until it can be transferred to the uterus.
Orthopedics Stem Cell
Knee
Research on mesenchymal stem cells regenerative properties in knee osteoarthritis. In these studies, researchers suggest that Stem Cell Therapy has the potential to regenerate lost cartilage, stop and reverse cartilage degeneration, provide pain relief, and improve patient mobility.
Shoulder
Stem Cell Therapy as an Alternative to Rotator Cuff & Shoulder Replacement Surgery. Stem cell therapy may offer an excellent alternative for patients looking to avoid shoulder joint replacement surgery, as well as many other surgical treatments for shoulder pain.
Ankle
If you suffer from chronic or acute ankle pain or instability due to arthritis, cartilage loss, ligament strain or tear, or tendon damage, then you may benefit from non-surgical stem cell treatments or stem cell-enhanced surgery.
Back Pain
Patients now have a minimally invasive option. Stem cell therapy for back pain and disc herniations can potentially repair the damaged disc or facet joint, restore function, rehydrate the disc, and ultimately alleviate chronic pain.
Anti-Aging Stem Cell
Hair Loss
Stem cell therapy and PRP therapy have been shown to be most effective for: Those in the early stages of hair loss, patients who are not viable candidates for surgery and women who prefer to avoid hair surgery.
Facial Anti-Aging
Aesthetic Anti-Aging. The Aesthetic Stem Cell Localized Treatment is a non-surgical minimally invasive procedure to enhance the appearance of aging skin and hair restoration. This all-natural technique combines dermal injections of bone marrow or adipose tissue derived stem cells and growth factors.
Fertility Stem Cell
Endometrial PRP
The stem cells used for treatment of a thin endometrium include mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, successful repair of the endometrium in pregnancy with stem cells has been reported previously.
Low Ovarian Reserve (PRP)
The treatment uses PRP (Platelet-Rich-Plasma), which with stem cell therapy is the novel therapeutic approach for restoring the quality of the ovarian reserve.Your PRP will contain a physiologic balance of platelets, growth factors and white blood cells tailored specifically for you.
Punta Mita Hospital
Mexico
Punta Mita Hospital - Genesis Cell
Mexico
