Lupus Essay

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Lupus has no precise meaning when used alone due to the various types, but it is a broad term for a chronic, progressive, skin disease. The types of lupus include: Lupus nephritis, Cutaneous lupus erythematosus, neuropsychiatric lupus, discoid lupus erythematosus, lupus pernio, lupus vulgaris, drug induced lupus erythematosus, and the most crucial systematic lupus erythematosus. The immune system is designated to attack foreign substances, but with lupus the immune system accidently attacks healthy cells and tissues damaging many parts of the body including: joints, the skin, kidneys, lungs, the heart, blood vessels, and the brain. Some people may only experience the skin symptoms which would indicate they have discoid lupus …show more content…

It may be difficult to tell the difference between SLE and DILE, because they both can cause a butterfly rash, that extends over the cheeks and on the bridge of the nose and tends to worsen in sunlight. Although DILE is caused by medications it can be just as severe as SLE, but easier to treat; stop taking the medication and the symptoms will cease a few days to a week after the medication is …show more content…

The systems that the criteria is broken into are: cutaneous, musculoskeletal nonerosive arthritis, cardiopulmonary pleuritis or pericarditis, renal, neurological disorder with seizures or psychosis due to unknown causes, and laboratory. To meet these criteria a doctor would do a physical exam and listen to the chest to hear an abnormal sound called a heart friction rub or pleural friction rub. The Doctor will also order a possibility of several exams including: a neurological examination, antibody tests (including anti-nuclear antibody (ADA) panel), complete blood cell count (CBC), a chest x-ray, a kidney biopsy, urinalysis, antithyroglobulin antibody, antithyroid microsomal antibody, complement components (C3 and C4), coombs’ test, cryoglobulins, ESR, kidney function blood tests, liver function blood tests, and a Rheumatoid factor

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