Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- PDF / 69,464 Bytes
- 3 Pages / 612 x 792 pts (letter) Page_size
- 20 Downloads / 216 Views
y, reduces the likelihood that complications of latestage disease will develop. SEE ALSO: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Herpes simplex virus, Human papillomavirus, Sexually transmitted diseases
Suggested Reading Gripshover, B., & Valdez, H. (2002). Common sexually transmitted diseases. In J. S. Tan (Ed.), Experts guide to the management of common infectious diseases (pp. 271–303). Philadelphia: American College of Physicians.
Suggested Resources Center for Disease Control website: http://www.cdc.gov/health/std.htm
KAREN L. ASHBY
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune, multisystem disease with a wide variety of symptoms. The primary immunological defect is the production of antibodies against one’s own self. These molecules cause tissue injury principally in the skin, joints, kidneys, nervous system, heart, and the lungs and surrounding linings. SLE affects 1 in 2,000 individuals in the general outpatient population. Women of childbearing age are most commonly affected. A genetic predisposition to SLE is likely since first-degree relatives have a much higher frequency of disease. Environmental factors, including ultraviolet light, emotional stress, and certain drugs, may also play a role by bringing on the disease or worsening it. Thus, SLE is a complex disease of many potential causes, including genetic and environmental factors, which results in an immune system that fights against normal tissues. The symptoms of SLE vary, but usually include nonspecific features such as fatigue, fever, and weight loss. SLE potentially can affect almost every body part. Because of this variability and the fact that other diseases may resemble SLE, diagnostic criteria have been developed. Although the list of criteria is a handy checklist, it is only a guide and is used primarily for research studies. In a research study, a patient must have 4 of the 11 criteria to meet the diagnosis of SLE. However, in practice, patients are often treated as
635
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus symptoms arise and may not have 4 criteria even though treatment is warranted. The skin is most commonly involved. The characteristic malar or “butterfly rash” is a red and swollen rash extending over the bony part of the nose and across the cheeks, often associated with sun exposure and getting sick from the sun. Painful joints are the most common initial symptoms of SLE. Arthritis may involve the hands, wrists, and knees on both sides of the body. This pattern also occurs in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but unlike RA, permanent deformity does not develop. The kidney is one of the most important organs affected by SLE, and kidney failure is the most common cause of death. Inflammatory reactions within the kidney lead to deposition of proteins that can cause a variety of problems including leakage of blood and protein into the urine. Nervous system involvement is also common and may involve the brain, nerves, and automatic functions such as blood pressure and pulse rate. SLE affects the he
Data Loading...
