Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, inflammatory, autoimmune disease that affects multiple organ systems (Weinstein, 2011). It is characterized by a stable disease process with episodes of active disease flare-ups. (Daleboudt, Berger, Broadbent & Kaptein, 2011). SLE primary affects women of childbearing age and it has been hypothesized that this is due to circulating estrogen levels (Bernknopf, Rowley, & Bailey, 2011). Diagnosis of SLE and organ involvement is made through laboratory testing. Patients with SLE have an increased risk for renal failure and heart failure and thus need to be monitored closely (Robinson, Sheets Cook, & Currie, 2011). A referral to a rheumatologist should be made upon suspicion of SLE (Weinstein, 2011). …show more content…
(“Systemic Lupus Erythematosus”, 2012). The primary factor in developing SLE is a genetic component although it is not fully understood (Robinson, Sheets Cook, & Currie, 2011). It has been shown that identical twins have a concordance rate of 24% whereas fraternal twins have a rate of 2% (“Systemic Lupus Erythematosus”, 2012). In addition, individuals have an 8-fold increased risk of developing SLE if they have a first-degree relative with the disease (Richman & Schub, …show more content…
Patients must exhibit 4 for the following: “malar rash, discoid rash on the cheeks, photosensitivity to sunlight, painless mucocutaneous ulcers, nonerosive arthritis of at least two joints, renal dysfunction evidenced as proteinuria or cellular casts, positive serum ANA, neurologic disorder such as seizures or psychosis, serositis as evidenced by pleuritis or pericarditis, hematologic disorders, and immunologic disorders” (Robinson, Sheets Cook, and Currie, p. 632). A patient that does not have four of the qualifying criteria for SLE will be labeled “incomplete” or “latent” SLE (Bernknopf, Rowley, & Bailey,
Twin studies have been used to distinguish between genetic and environmental factors for many disorders in the general population including ectodermal dysplasia, Ellis-van Creveld, and anencephaly. This review focuses on genetic disorders affecting monozygotic, dizygotic, and conjoined twins to gain a better understanding of them. Many studies focus on twins because they have a nearly identical genome, which eliminates environmental factors. In case studies, the concordance rates in monozygotic twins have supported that certain disorders were caused by genetics and not the environment. The discordant values in twins will also be evaluated briefly. Twinning studies have also shown linkages between specific disorders and the genes responsible for them. Knowing the location of these genes allows patients to be treated quickly and efficiently. This paper will discuss the possible causes of twinning and the various methods of identifying abnormalities in twins. These methods also allow preventive measures against the rise of birth defects during prenatal development. Epigenetics in twins is also viewed through the perspective of effects on them. Treatments for genetic disorders in twins are reviewed, ranging from the restoration of malformed teeth to the separation of conjoined twins. Support groups for twins in treatment, and their families are also briefly reviewed.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease affecting the myelination of the central nervous system, leading to numerous issues regarding muscle strength, coordination, balance, sensation, vision, and even some cognitive defects. Unfortunately, the etiology of MS is not known, however, it is generally thought of and accepted as being an autoimmune disorder inside of the central nervous system (Rietberg, et al. 2004). According to a study (Noonan, et al. 2010) on the prevalence of MS, the disease affects more than 1 million people across the world, and approximately 85% of those that are affected will suffer from unpredictably occurring sessions of exacerbations and remissions. The report (Noonan, et al. 2010) found that the prevalence of MS was much higher in women than in men, and that it was also higher in non-Hispanic whites than in other racial or ethnic groups throughout the 3 regions of the United States that were studied.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory and an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks the body’s tissue (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017). This disease affects the entire body, which is called a systemic (means entire body) disease. Arthritis is derived from the word part arthr-, which means “joint,” and -itis, which means “inflammation,” so altogether it means “inflammation of the joints.” It creates inflammation that causes the tissue that lines the inside of joints (synovium) to thicken. About 1.5 million people in the U.S. are affected. It affects all races, but it affects three times as many women than men (What is Rheumatoid Arthritis, n.d.). Overtime, rheumatoid arthritis causes painful swelling that can potentially result in bone erosion or joint deformity, which leads up to physical disabilities. RA can affect more than just your joints, but can spread to body systems, skin, eyes, lungs, heart, blood vessels, e.t.c (Rheumatoid arthritis, 2017).
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue and organs. This inflammation can damage many different bodily systems. Lupus commonly affects the joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, brain and heart. Many people with lupus have found relief for some of their chronic pain through practicing a few different styles of yoga.
Lupus comes in four different forms. They are Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Discoid(cutaneous), Drug-induced Lupus, and Neonatal Lupus. “Systemic lupus is typically the most common form of lupus and generally considered more serious than the other three forms”(www.lupusmn.org). Systemic lupus can also be called SLE(www.lupusmn.org). Symptoms tend to show among patients and c...
Point #1: “Lupus is a chronic (6 wks. -Years), autoimmune disease that occurs when your body’s immune system damages any part of your body such as the skin, joints, and organs.”
According to National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is an unpredictable, often disabling disease of the central nervous system (CNS) that disrupts the flow of information within the brain, and between the brain and body. The central nervous system (CNS) comprises of the brain and the spinal cord. CNS is coated and protected by myelin sheath that is made of fatty tissues (Slomski, 2005). The inflammation and damage of the myelin sheath causing it to form a scar (sclerosis). This results in a number of physical and mental symptoms, including weakness, loss of coordination, and loss of speech and vision. The way the disease affect people is always different; some people experience only a single attack and recover quickly, while others condition degenerate over time (Wexler, 2013). Hence, the diagnosis of MS is mostly done by eliminating the symptoms of other diseases. Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects both men and women, but generally, it is more common in women more than men. The disease is most usually diagnosed between ages 20 and 40, however, it can occur at any age. Someone with a family history of the disease is more likely to suffer from it. Although MS is not
J.P., a 58 year old female, presents to the Emergency Room on March 18th. She has a past medical history of cervical cancer, atheroembolism of the left lower extremity, fistula of the vagina, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy, glaucoma, GERD, depression, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and sickle cell anemia. She complains of right lower extremity pain accompanied by fatigue, a decreased appetite, increased work of breathing, burning urination, and decreased urine output for three days. Upon admission, a complete physical assessment was performed along with a blood and metabolic panel. The assessment revealed many positive and negative findings.
Wiley Online Library, 2013. The Epidemiology of Multiple Sclerosis [online] Available at: <. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1600-0404.1997.tb08143.x/abstract> [Accessed 05 December 2013].
Rheumatoid Arthritis is when the joints are chronically inflamed, which happens because it is an autoimmune disease which means that the immune system attacks the body tissues. Although Rheumatoid Arthritis mainly affects the joints, it can also affect other organs.
The basic question in dealing with HRT is to first ascertain why it is actually needed. Hormonal replacement is required for the treatment of many disorders where the normal synthesis of a vital hormone is either malfunctioning or is not functioning at all. For instance, Levothyroxine (L-thyroxine) is used for thyroid hormone replacement in those suffering from hypothyroidism (Cygan and Rucker, 1983, p. 232). In case of menopausal women suffering from symptoms like hot flushes and night sweats, estrogen replacement therapy has largely helped in relieving the unpleasant symptoms of menopause (Barrett-Connor, 1998, p. 457). In othe...
All human bodies have an immune system, which is a complex network of cells and organs that protect the body from germs and other foreign substances. A mistake can make the body unable to tell the difference between foreign substances and the body’s own cells. When this happens, the body makes auto-antibodies that attack body cells by mistake. When a foreign substance invades your body (like a cold virus or bacteria on a thorn that pricks your skin) your immune system attacks it. It tries to identify, kill and get rid of the invaders that might harm you. But sometimes problems with your immune system cause it to mistake your body’s own healthy cells as invaders and then repeatedly attack them. This is called an autoimmune disease.
Systemic Vasculitis is a disorder that affects your immune system, causing dysfunction. Specifically, it is an autoimmune disorder that inflames blood vessels. This disorder can be caused by drug reactions, some chronic infections, and malignancies. Symptoms vary, depending on which blood vessels are affected. In order to confirm that someone has Systemic Vasculitis, a tissue biopsy, or Angiography, is performed.
The positive anti-Sm is used as a diagnostic test meaning the patient most likely has Lupus.
One of the most common mysteries in the world is the development of autoimmune diseases. An autoimmune disease is when the immune system, which usually keeps your body healthy thinks that your healthy cells are antigens and attacks them. This is irony right? It is against properties of evolution for an immune system to attack itself causing sickness and possibly death if untreated. There are about 80 different types of autoimmune diseases, which usually have periods of little to no symptoms and worsening symptoms. What particularly creates confusion in the world is the autoimmune disease, inflammatory bowel disease, which affects almost about five million people worldwide.