Essay - Lupus - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Sle) Abstract Systemic Lupus Erythematosus...

Lupus - Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus or ***** is an autoimmune disease of still unknown cause. Women of childbearing age develop it much more than men. Its symptoms im*****ate those ***** other *****s, especially fatigue, hence it is different to diagnose. There are 4 known types. Approximately 1.5***** 2 million women develop SLE. There also appears ***** be a genetic component to it. ***** is ***** no known cure to it but more and more drugs are *****ing developed ***** at least control its *****. Lupus patients require special attention from his family ***** community, which must make community resources available for their coping. Some of them get deeply depressed or unreasonably tired. Worthless worrying further deprive them ***** sleep and wake up more tired in the morn*****g.

Introduction

Autoimmune diseases are ***** life-threatening conditions, which everyone needs to know about and be guarded against. One such disease is systemic lupus ***** or SLE. Its symptoms mimic other disorders and can spread into the body systems before anything can be done. Although survival has improved in the last 3 decades, there is as yet no cure for it. ***** sufferers present physical ***** psychosocial complications, ***** all require attention and expert remedy or handl*****g.

Body

***** Character*****tics, Types

Systemic lupus erythematosus or ***** is an autoimmune d**********der wherein the immune system turns against the body and destroys healthy tissue (NWHRC, 2008). Normal ***** system fights against ***** protects ***** body from bacteria and viruses. In SLE, this is reversed. Healthy tissues include skin, joints, kidneys, heart and lungs. ***** can create life-threatening problems or chronic symptoms, which reduce the quality of life. Chronic low-grade symptoms include fatigue and muscle aches. It affects many ***** systems at the same time, that is why it is d*****abling ***** life-threatening (*****).

SLE involves only the skin and ***** in some people ***** also ***** *****, blood and ***** *****gans or tissues in others (NWHRC, 2008). Not all the symptoms ***** suffered by all persons with the disease. There may be remission periods of few or no ***** ***** periods ***** "flares," when the ***** becomes active. Another type is discoid lupus erythematosus or DLE. In this condition, parts of the body exposed to the sun develop lesions ***** very red, raised and hard bumps or plaques. Among these ***** be overgrown scaly *****, plugged hair follicles and ***** wide blood vessels. Older lesions may ***** atrophic scarring and dyspigmentation. Atropic scarring is thinning of healing skin. Dyspigmentation is loss of col***** of the skin. Some sufferers may have DLE *****out SLE. ***** about 10% of cases, ***** progresses ***** ***** severe *****. Lesions occur above and below the neck. A third kind is drug-induced lupus. The most common drug is procainamide, which is prescribed for heart rhythm problems, hydralazine ***** high blood pressure, and ********** for tuberculosis. This does not affect the kidneys or central nervous system. It also improves when the ***** inducing it is stopped. On the