“Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own structures” (Beattie, 2013). This means that the disease that has a slower onset, but it also has a long-term effect and the signs and symptoms will be continuous. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) can affect the entire body or any organ in the body, including: the kidneys, swelling of the joints, affecting the blood vessels and the skin.
ETIOLOGY
SLE is idiopathic, which means that the cause of the disease is unknown. It is linked to having several factors that can effect it. For example, genetics, environmental factors, and gender and/or hormones. “The disease is not linked to a certain gene, but people with lupus often have family members with other autoimmune conditions. There may be environmental triggers like ultraviolet rays, certain medications, a virus, physical or emotional stress, and trauma. SLE affects more women than men. Women also experience worsening of symptoms during pregnancy and with their menstrual periods. Both of these observations have led some medical professionals to believe that the female hormone estrogen may play a role in causing SLE. However, more research is still needed to prove this theory” (Herndon, n.d.). Our patient’s causes are unknown of why he has Systemic Lupus. We do know through patient history a previous family member does have an autoimmune disease. Also, from his frequent sun exposure he has developed a skin rash on his extremities and face.
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The most common signs of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus are (DiGeronimo,
Lupus is a potentially life threatening disease that effects about 1.5 million Americans. Lupus can effect many different parts of the body. Lupus is a type of autoimmune system disorder in which the body cannot distinguish the difference between foreign antibodies and its own organs. So basically what happens is that the body ends up attacking its own organs thinking they are foreign substances. (The Lupus Foundation of America)
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause that can affect virtually any part of the body. The medical term for Lupus is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or better known as SLE. With Lupus there is a malfunction in some of the cells of the immune system. "In Lupus, the body overreacts to an unknown stimulus and makes to many antibodies, or proteins directed against body tissue. Thus, Lupus is called an autoimmune disease. ”#
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that attacks women between the ages of 15 and 40. It occurs less often in men than in women. The people affected by lupus vary depending on the country or region. In the US alone, the prevalence rate is highest among Asians of Hawaii, blacks of Caribbean origin, and Native Americans of the Sioux, Arapahoe, and Crow tribes. Lupus is a disease that affects the immune system. We can think of the immune system as an army within the body with hundreds of defenders (known as antibodies). They defend the body from attack by germs and viruses. In lupus, however, the immune system becomes overactive and creates antibodies that attack healthy tissues in the body, such as: the skin, kidneys, lungs, heart and brain.
Systemic lupus erythematosus, or simply lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease or immune system malfunction. A person's immune system normally protects the person from viruses, bacteria and other foreign materials. When a person has an autoimmune diseases like lupus, the immune system turns against itself and attacks itself.
ANA: test for these autoantibodies (very general); DsDNA (+): Making antibodies to and attacking own DNA; Anti-Sm (+): these antibodies generally interfere with the cells metabolism and are responsible for the symptoms specifically seen with SLE. Here, they are specifically targeted at smooth muscle. CRP elevated: also indicates presence of inflammation, but is more specific towards disease activity; ESR elevated: indirectly indicates the activity of the disease and presence of inflammation; C3 and C4 (decreased): C3 and C4 usually attack the membranes of viruses and bacteria, but in the case of lupus, they attack the own body’s cells. When C3 and C4 suggest the disease is active
Lupus is a rare and crippleing disease. This disease is as rare as it is hard to undertand. Lupus being a not well known disease is hard to pinpoint. This disease causes insufferable pain and body problems. Such a terrible disease causes syptoms like swelling muscles, joint pains, general inflamations, organ failures, and overall fatigue. Lupus is an autoimmune disease ( AKA the autoimmune sytem attacking itself). This autoimmune disease is most common in youge woman in birth bearing age. With little known reason
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) also referred to lupus dates back to the middle ages and has made an explosion in the past 60 years. Even though more than 1.5 million Americans have lupus and 90% of lupus sufferers are women, between the ages of 15 to 44 (Lupus Research Institute), there is little awareness about the disease. 72% of Americans aged 18-34 have either not heard of the disease or know nothing about it (Medical News Today). However, researchers continue on working to have a better understanding of SLE factors, pathophysiology, current treatment and new prospects for treatment.
It is not rare for individuals with lupus to undergo muscle throbs and discomfort or have inflammation of certain muscle groups, which causes faintness and loss of intensity. More than 90 percent of people with lupus will encounter joint and/or muscle pain at some time during the path of their illness. In lupus, the immune system of the body raids its own cells and tissues. Precisely, the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system, and other organs of the body are affected. Lupus affects generally 10 times as many women as men. Most often, lupus develops in people 18 to 45 years old. (Lahita) Though lupus is most dominant among women, it also may affect men and children, as well as individuals of all ages. Lupus effects each person
The most commonly affected parts of the body are the joints, skin, lung, liver, kidney and heart. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is more common in women than men especially woman from the age of 15-35. The cure for SLE is currently
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is an autoimmune disease within the appearance of autoantibodies that fights against nuclear antigens within the body of a person who is living with SLE and the involvement of their organ systems, including the kidneys. The rigorous events that cause an onset of medical signs of SLE are not yet well understood. However, the researcher are usingnumerous mouse strains spontaneous and inducible lupus to find a cure because as of now there still is no cure for lupus.
The exact cause for Lupus is unknown; however experts believe that some people are born with certain genes that affect how your immune system works. It appears that people with inherited predisposition for Lupus may develop this disease when they come in contact with “triggers.” Some potential triggers are: sunlight, infections, and medications. Sunlight exposure can lead to Lupus skin lesions, or trigger and internal response in susceptible people. Having an infection can initiate Lupus, or causes a relapse in symptoms. Also some anti-seizure, blood pressure, and antibiotic medications can trigger Lupus. People who have drug induced Lupus noticed their symptoms go away once they stopped taking the
Systemic Lupus Erythematous will affect people in different ways. The joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, the heart affected are the worst affect Systemic, .Lupus Erythematous can damage a person that have it. The type of lupus is also often categorized by periods of flare when the disease is living and periods of decrease when the disease is hidden. The signs and symptoms range from rashes on the cheeks, Ulcers in your mouth, red palms and hands, joint pain, joint redness, swelling of the joints, their face and legs become very swollen, the shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, hair loss, swelling of lymph glands, protein in the urine, increase sensitivity to the sun and last but not least mental changes. The people that have lupus in the blood will be affect because they may start developing anemia, leukopenia which is a decreasing number of white blood cells, or thrombocytopenia which is a decreasing in the number of platelets in the blood, which assist in clotting. A lot of people with the disease lupus that on autoantibody called antiphospholipid antibodies have an increased risk of blood clots. The people that have lupus in the heart are at risk because of the inflammation can occur in the heart itself or the membrane that surrounds itself (pericarditis), causing chest pain or other symptoms. The disease lupus have endocarditis which can damage the heart
The cause of Lupus is still an enigma, and this is one chronic condition that still can’t be easily defined.
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease marked by its effect on various parts of the body, including the joints, skin, blood, and kidneys. It is a condition in which the body's immune system attacks its own cells and tissues, resulting in pain, inflammation, and often damage to organs. Lupus involves the immune system. The immune system makes antibodies that work to protect the body against foreign substances like viruses and bacteria. Such foreign bodies are called antigens. When a person has lupus, his or her body is unable to determine the difference between antigens and the individual's cells and body tissues. As such, the immune system creates antibodies against the individual's own tissues. These antibodies are called autoantibodies. Depending on the type of lupus, a wide range of symptoms may be experienced, from rashes, hair loss, and achy, swollen joints to fever, anemia, and abnormal blood clotting. Though the disease can affect many parts of the body, individuals usually experience symptoms in only a few organs. There is no known cure for lupus. However,
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease which causes inflammation of your joints, tissues, and organs. The inflammation presents itself as heat, pain, swelling and redness. SLE is a variable disease that doesn’t take any one particular course; therefore its unpredictability makes it even more devastating. No two people will experience the same disease symptoms or severity level. As S.L.E progresses there will be periods of very subtle to no symptoms at all called remission or an exacerbation of symptoms called flares.