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The following is information about Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.  The author is Mark Flanigan.  1.0 Definition: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, or SLE, is a disorder of the immune system which is referred to as an autoimmune disease. In this condition, the body’s immune system reacts against its own cells leading to the deposition of immune complexes in tissues of various parts of the body. It affects multiple tissues and organs of the body by causing cell damage and inflammation and subsequent tissue damage. Systemic refers to its ability to affect almost any part of the body. Lupus is Latin for wolf, so named over 100 years ago by a doctor who thought the rash on the face looked like a wolf bite. And the final word, Erythematosus, refers to a reddening of the skin.  The condition can affect anyone, but is found primarily (approximately 90 percent of cases) in women of child-bearing age. It is also found more commonly amongst certain ethnic groups, including blacks, Hispanics and Asians. It is a relatively rare disease, affecting between 15 to 50 in 100,000 of the population.  Other diseases that are autoimmune include Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP), Rheumatoid Arthritis, Type 1 Diabetes which is also Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitis, and several others.  2.0 Causes  Despite much research, the disease still remains of unknown aetiology. It is believed, however, that the condition may be triggered by infection of a pathogen that resembles some of the body’s own proteins. When the immune system is triggered to eliminate the pathogen, it also mistakenly identifies some of its proteins as being foreign also, and develops antibodies to them. Another line of belief suggests that the disease occurs when the immune system becomes overactive, as in the case of a severe infection, and then does not reduce its intensity after the infection has been brought under control. A normal immune system will turn down its activity after the infection has passed, but it appears that this is not the case with SLE. In both situations the resultant reaction within the body leads to immune complexes being deposited around various areas and different systems of the body. This will vary according to a combination of hormonal factors, genetics, previous exposures the immune system has reacted to, and perhaps other factors that have not yet been determined. Because these factors vary vastly between individuals, so too do the symptoms, pattern of formation and clinical expression of the disease.  3.0 Clinical manifestations  (signs, symptoms, description of anatomical and physiological changes that cause the clinical manifestations) Signs and symptoms of SLE vary widely between individuals, with some experiencing symptoms in only one area of the body. Others can experience a variety of symptoms affecting multiple organs or systems. Some common characteristics of SLE include the following:
4.0 Risk factors There are a number of risk factors that may be involved. These include exposure to ultra violet radiation, genetic pre-disposition, gender - as females are more likely to incur the disease than males, and exposure to unknown environmental factors. Certain drugs also induce lupus like symptoms, but these usually abate when the drug use is discontinued. 5.0 Diagnostic techniques The system of differential diagnosis is used to determine whether a patient has SLE. Accurate diagnosis is not easy, due to the enormous variation in symptoms and lack of a specific indicator. In order for a patient to be diagnosed, they must have at least 4 of the common criteria, most of which are listed under clinical manifestations. Renal biopsy is often performed to determine degree of kidney damage. |