Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus Essay example

     There are three different types of Lupus. They are: Discoid, Systematic, and Drug-Induced. Discoid Lupus only effects a persons skin. The only symptom of Discoid Lupus is a rash. Systematic Lupus is the most common form of Lupus. It effects

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.

“Lupus Foundation of America Commends FDA committee Decision to Approved Benlysta.” Medical New Today. 19 Nov 2010. 19 Nov 2010. <www.medicalnewstoday.com>

7. What other findings indicative of central nervous system (CNS) involvement from SLE should D.W. be assessed

Juvenile lupus is a “disease in which the immune system is overactive and does not function properly” (College of Rheumatology). As with many autoimmune conditions, the immune system attacks healthy tissues. In the case of juvenile lupus the immune system attacks different organs in the body, which results in painful inflammation in the child (College of Rheumatology). There are multiple possible factors included in the cause of juvenile lupus, like hormones and the environment, but because the cause of lupus is still unknown, no one really knows how to prevent it from happening in children (College of Rheumatology). There is no cure for lupus, but there are many successful treatments to help children and teens with juvenile lupus (College of Rheumatology).

Reducing daily stress can help control lupus symptoms. “Today, physicians treat lupus using a wide variety of medicines, ranging in strength from mild to extremely strong. Prescribed medications will usually change during a person’s lifetime with lupus.” (Lupus Foundation of America). A rheumatologist, a doctor who specializes in diseases of the joints and muscles, usually treats people with lupus. If lupus has caused damage to a particular organ, other specialists will be consulted. a dermatologist for cutaneous lupus, a cardiologist for heart disease, a nephrologist for kidney disease, a neurologist who studies brain and nervous system disease, or a gastroenterologist for gastrointestinal tract disease. A woman with lupus who is thinking about possibly having a baby needs an obstetrician who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. Once a person is diagnosed with lupus a doctor will set up a treatment plan. usually involving trying to reduce inflammation, suppressing the overactive immune system, reducing flares and treating them when they occur, and minimizing damage to any

and Dodi Schultz wrote a completely updated and revised edition titled “Lupus: The Body Against Itself,” Blau and Schultz stress “the lack of space and attention towards lupus (3). “Lupus afflicts, as we pointed out, at least half a million and probably close to a million Americans; most of those it strikes are young women” (3). Which with women being the most common to have lupus Wallace pointed out that the types of lupus erythematosus are: Cutaneous 10%, Systemic 70%, Non-organ-threatening 35%, Organ- threatening 35%, Drug-induced 10%, and crossover or overlap syndrome and/ or MCTD 10% (Wallace 7). Wallace also points out that it is very possible- indeed probable- that in the next 30 years we will be able to identify patients at risk for developing SLE by using HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) testing or other methods and that we’ll then vaccinate them to prevent lupus (Wallace

Let me remind you that although these different types sound different, they all have the same painful symptoms. It’s difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of Lupus, because even healthy people experience these symptoms.

When people think of the condition Lupus, they usually have their own distorted views on it. Even though lupus is mainly a women’s disease, men are also prone to the disease on rare occasions. Over 90% of lupus sufferers are young women around the ages of 15 to 44. Lupus is a very chronic and complex autoimmune disease which affects more than 1.5 millions Americans alone. Due to Lupus’ uncontrollable symptoms and it's ability to mimic other diseases, there is no single laboratory test which could definitely identify the illness it makes it much difficult to be diagnose. If the disease can be diagnosed early it's ability to progress and become more severe decrease. Whether they’ve heard myths that depict Lupus as a sexually transmitted disease

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,

SLE requires many tests to diagnose correctly; many other diseases are ruled out before coming to the conclusion of lupus. A diagnosis for lupus may include a complete medical history check, reported symptoms, and various tests. These tests may include blood tests, urine tests, x-rays, ESR3, C-reactive protein4, and complement tests to measure proteins in the blood. Each test may show different results, so many tests are repeated to make sure of an accurate diagnosis. If the individual being evaluated for lupus has four of the eleven criteria they will almost certainly be diagnosed with lupus (Ohio State, 2009).

During SLE, the body’s immune system doesnt work as it should. In a healthy immune system, the body makes special proteins called antibodies and a specific type of white blood cell called lymphocytes. These two components are crucial to healthy immune system because they help to fight and destroy foreign viruses and bacteria that can be harmful to the body. In SLE the immune system produces harmful antibodies that work against the body’s healthy cells and tissues which are called autoantibodies. Autoantibodies cause inflammation in the body that could severly damage organs and tissues. Most people tend to develop an

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.