Taking a Look at Systemic Sclerosis

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.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a disease in which a person’s own immune system begins to recognize its own tissues and organs as foreign antigens which causes it to attack and injure those targeted structures (Perspectives 14). Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) causes coin-shaped lesions to appear on the skin and does not affect any other system other than the integumentary (Perspectives 23). As stated on the Mayo Clinic website the etiology of the disease is idiopathic, but it is believed that environmental factors and inherited genetic code may contribute to the formation of lupus. Lupus can also be triggered by sunlight, infections, and medications such as anti-seizure and hypertension prescriptions (Mayo Clinic). Iatrogenic cases of the disease often have their symptoms reduced or eradicated after stopping those medications (Mayo Clinic). Diagnosis of the disease is based upon criteria set in place by the American College of Rheumatology as lupus often affects the muscle and joints (Lupus.org). The list is comprised of eleven common signs and symptoms that have been observed by rheumatologists. They are: Malar or

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or Erythematous, also known as SLE, is a chronic inflammatory, autoimmune disease that transpires when the body’s own immune system assaults, with “variable manifestations”, it’s own tissues and organ systems throughout the itself1,2,3. This can also include joints, heart, lungs, skin, brain, blood cells, etc1. Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is known to have an impact on the organ network involved with immune complexes and multiple antibodies, especially antinuclear antibodies, or ANAs, an abnormal antibody that is targeted to cause certain edemas throughout the body and different tissues4.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. Consequently, all organs and tissues are at risk of being damaged by inflammation. The most affected organs are the kidneys, lungs, heart, and skin (Harvery and Zieve; Simanta, and Mohan). The most affected tissues are the joints, and nervous tissues. The renal system controls blood pressure and blood volume. It also removes waste products and toxins from the blood. SLE causes inflammation of the nephrons, preventing the kidney to properly maintain blood volume and properly filter waste products and toxins (Harvery and Zieve). Kidney inflammation alone will trigger complications throughout the entire body. The lungs are responsible for the gas exchange with the

“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.

My family represents my world. My parents have to sacrificed work time and career plans to take me to doctor visits and provide me with all the extra medical care needed. Both of my parents have always been there to support and guide me, especially in the difficult times. At the age of three, I was diagnosed with scleroderma. Scleroderma is a chronic connective tissue disease that involves the hardening and tightening of the skin and connective tissues. This disease has made life goals more challenging and difficult to accomplish. But I believe has given me more strength to stay stronger that I can anything accomplish anything that I put my mind to. At school, I have managed to develop into a strong person who can multitask between school and doctor appointments. Despite I have stayed focused on my goals. My goals are to transfer, attend a university

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder that induced dryness of the eyes (xerophthalmia) and mouth (xerostomia); salivary gland lesions and dysfunction; also the presence of autoantibodies including anti- Sjogren’s syndrome (SSA) and/or rheumatoid factor (RF).1,3 Primary Sjögren’s syndrome occurs in the absence of other underlying rheumatic disorder while secondary Sjögren’s syndrome is linked with another underlying rheumatic disease, such as mixed connective tissue disease, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), or scleroderma.2,10 In Sjögren’s syndrome all structures and organs of the body may be involved .This disease commonly affected the eyes,

Scleroderma is a broad term used to describe a spectrum of disorders identified by skin fibrosis (Succaria, Kurban, Kibbi & Abbas, 2013). It is a serious condition that is classified as either being a systemic or localised autoimmune disease of collagen tissue impacting both internal and external organs (Oksel & Gündüzoğlu, 2014). Due to the vast divergency of this disease there will be brief discussion on the various forms of both systemic and localised scleroderma however, the main focus is to investigate findings based on localised scleroderma, delving into the knowledge of the conditions with particular focus on the aetiology of the disease and its clinical features, followed by differential diagnosis of how this condition can be misdiagnosed

The Integumentary system is where the initial symptoms of Scleroderma will appear. At the beginning stages, the skin will begin to harden and thicken primarily on the fingers but eventually hands, feet, face, and other skin areas on the body. Fingers typically swell and tighten resulting in restricted finger motion. Over time, the tightness of the skin will become more severe so that every day movements such as opening mouth, chewing food, and bending fingers may be lost. In some cases, the places where skin has hardened and thickened will lose the ability to sweat and grow hair.

Thousands of Americans are diagnosed with Scleroderma every year across the nation. Scleroderma, also known as Systematic Sclerosis, is an over production of collagen in body tissues causing patches of skin to tighten and harden and can harm other structures in the body.

There are many conditions that are categorized as autoimmune diseases. These include both systemic and organ specific diseases. One organ specific chronic autoimmune disease that hit me close to home was Graves disease. Understanding this chronic endocrine illness is important in understanding how a patient with this condition might feel. Grave’s is an autoimmune disease characterized by hyperthyroidism due to circulating autoantibodies. In this disease thyroid stimulating immunoglobins also known as TSIs bind to and activate thyrotropin receptors, this than causes the thyroid to grow and the thyroid follicles to increase synthesis of the thyroid hormone (Cooper, 2012).

Systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) is an autonomous disorder with a number of autoantibodies(double stranded DNA,ANA). It causes inflammation diffusely through the body(skin, brain, kidneys,joints) and the blood. SLE has numerous abnormal blood tests associated with it(anemia, anti-Sm, anti-phospholipid antibodies), but this is not the same thin as knowing what causes SLE. its cause is a mystery.The etiology of SLE is unknown but multiple genetic, epigenetic, and environmental risk factors have been implicated. The inheritance of genes alone is not sufficient for developing SLE, suggesting the influence of environmental triggers on disease expression. Despite the significant role of the environment in modulating autoimmunity pathogenesis,

Autoimmune disease is a disease where the body’s immune system attacks and damages its own body tissues. The immune system may start producing antibodies that will attack its own body tissue instead of protecting and fighting infections in response to an unknown triggering mechanism. Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a type of autoimmune disease in which the myelin sheath that covers axons and speeds up the transmission of nerve impulse in the brain is damaged or destroyed. The word Multiple refers to many areas and Sclerosis refers to the scar of the myelin sheath. The disease affects the central nervous system which are the brain and spinal cord. When the myelin sheath is damaged, nerves cannot conduct the electrical impulses efficiently.

Sjögren’s Syndrome is an autoimmune disease that affects the whole body. Symptoms of SS include extensive dryness, fatigue, chronic pain, dysfunction of organs such as kidneys, blood vessels, lungs, liver, etc, neuropathies, and lymphomas. SS can occur in the presence of another autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or scleroderma. Symptoms can vary from mild to debilitating, and SS can remain steady, worsen, or, although rare, can go into remission. Today, at least four million people are living with this disease in the United States.

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.