The Pathogenesis Associated With Sle

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

These alien like materials are known as antigens. Having an autoimmune condition such as SLE, the body 's system may lose its ability to know the transformation among remote substances knowing as antigens and our normal cells and tissues. Our body system makes up these well-known antibodies engaged against itself. Our immune system protects our antibodies from the reaction within the body antigens to form protection and developments. The protected multiple factors build up in our tissues and can cause inflammation, injury to the normal cell, tissues, and cause pain. African American, Latino, and Asian women are more commonly affected by SLE than Caucasian women.

SLE is a systemic autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system wrongly attacks healthy tissue, and affects many of the internal organs in the body. SLE is most likely to damage the heart, skin, lungs, kidneys, joints, blood vessels, liver, and nervous system. SLE is a chronic inflammatory disease understood to be type III hypersensitivity responses, with some type II hypersensitivity involvement. Jillian’s complete blood count revealed she has low red blood cell and hemoglobin levels. Her result was 2.8 cells/mcL while the reference range is 3.90-5.03 cells/mcL for red blood cell count and 10.0 g/dL while the reference range is 12.0-15.5 g/dL for hemoglobin, resulting in anemia. With Type II hypersensitivity and hemolytic anemia, IgM antibodies bind to red blood cells and causes the agglutination of the red blood cells, resulting in a low red blood cell count. Hemolytic anemia explains Jillian’s symptoms of fatigue and shortness of breath. An indirect consequence of hemolytic anemia is the splenomegaly and pre-hepatic jaundice. The red blood cell breakdown and excretion of bilirubin resulted in Jillian’s high bilirubin total count in the blood chem panel, her value was 2.1 MG/DL when the average reference range is 0.2-1.3 MG/DL. With type III hypersensitivity immune

Makover, M. & Zieve, D. (2011, February 14). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Retrieved July

There are only treatments to suppress symptoms, treat complications related to the disease, and relieve discomfort (Harvery and Zieve). The treatments to suppress symptoms include the use of topical creams to treat skin rash. The topical creams used for the treatment of lupus contain corticosteroids to suppress inflammation and immune activity. The use of corticosteroids is essential to suppresses inflammation and immune response. Corticosteroids work by suppressing T cell secretions of cytokines, and suppressing B cells ability to bind with interleukins (Harvery and Zieve; Simanta, and Mohan). Corticosteroids diminish neutrophils adhesion, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and secretion of toxic substance (Harvery and Zieve; Simanta, and Mohan). Corticosteroids also reduce the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes (Harvery and Zieve; Simanta, and Mohan). A more mild treatment method is the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs block prostaglandins, therefore, suppressing blood vessel dilation, inflammation, and pain (Harvery and Zieve). On more aggressive cases of SLE the use of immunosuppressant drugs is required. These drugs impedes the production of immune cells. In 2011, the first biological drug made specificly for the treatment of lupus was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Harvery and Zieve). This drug is called Belimumab. It targets B cells that have lost self-tolerance (Harvery and Zieve; Smcconnell). Because the causes of lupus are not yet well known, there are no prevention

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.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is chronic disease that affects almost all body systems and may result in renal failure. The body produces proteins called autoantibodies that causes inflammation and tissue damage.

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,

Mendoza et al found that levels of B cell lymphocytes and natural killer cells were lower in SLE patients who were under immunosuppressive therapy

The immune system consists of a defense system that guards the body against invasion from infections and other diseases. Normally, a healthy person's immune system has the capability to differentiate between its own cells and cells that represent threats to the health of the body. (Craft and Kanter, 2002). Autoimmune disease refers to a broad range of over 80 acute, long-lasting diseases that affect nearly every organ in the body. (Wrong Diagnosis.com, 2000).

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.

SLE is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs. There are different body systems effected such as joints, skin, blood cells, brain, kidneys, heart and lungs. Some may have only a few joints affected, where others may have multiple joints affected. The small joints of the hands and feet tend to be the most common affected. Joint stiffness is common and is usually worse in the morning. Mild joint swelling may occur but severe arthritis with joint damage is unusual. Skin is another area effected by SLE, patients experience a red rash which develops over the cheeks and nose. Other areas of skin exposed to sunlight (hands, wrists, etc) may also develop a rash. Some may experience reduced numbers of white blood cells or platelets and mild anemia is common. Occasionally inflammation of the brain can lead to epilepsy, headaches, migraines and other conditions.