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Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a fairly common disease identified as episodes of inflammation and damage to joints, tendons, and various organs. The most effected organs are the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, blood vessels, and skin. Lupus affects each individual differently and the effects could be mild to severe depending on the individual. SLE is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the healthy cells and tissues in the body (Ohio State, 2009). The main cause of lupus is unknown, but there are believed to be many factors that could contribute to lupus. Lupus is believed to be genetic for many individuals (Ohio State, 2009). If a mother has SLE, her daughter has a 1:40 chance of developing lupus, whereas, her son has a 1:250 chance (Leber, 2009). Environmental issues could be present where the cause in the environment is unknown. SLE can also be caused by some medications. The disease may be present while taking the medication, but disappear when the individual stops taking the medication. The majority of people who have lupus are women between late teens to forty-five. Females are affected three to ten times more likely than males (Ohio State, 2009). African American women are more likely to develop lupus than Caucasian women (Leber, 2009). Human leukocyte antigens are a group of genes on chromosome six. The human leukocyte antigens (HLA) associated with lupus is called DR2 and DR3. A person who has these antigens is very likely to develop lupus, but individuals with different antigens may also develop SLE (Ohio State, 2009). There are many symptoms of SLE and will vary from individual to individual with the disease. Some common symptoms are inflammation of the joints, Raynaud’s phenomenon1, m... ... middle of paper ... ...ttempt to treat physical symptoms of SLE as well as the psychological symptoms. HRQoL, disease activity, and disease damage are three different components of lupus and should be measured separately for the most accurate results. Measuring the patient’s quality of life will assist in keeping the patient informed about how the disease is affecting them in their daily lives. HRQoL will vary significantly with each individual and is very important to measure patient’s responses to lupus. Fatigue is a widely influential factor in lupus patients and should be included in quality of life studies (McElhone, 2006). Studies found a role of defensins in the pathogenesis of SLE (Froy, 2009). Although, when SLE involves major organ, the disease can be put into remission with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy, these treatments can cause toxic results (Ntali, 2009).
that cause dark red blotches on the skin, usually on the face). Laboratory tests are another consideration of diagnosis. Tests consist of anti-nuclear anti-body (ANA) counts and anti-topoisomerase (an enzyme that reduces super-coiling in DNA by breaking and rejoining one or both strands of DNA). High ANA’s and low anti-topoisomerases are found in patients with Raynaud syndrome. (Desai, 2003) “Patients with circulating autoantibodies, antinuclear antibodies, and anti-Scl 70 antibodies are at (an) increased risk of developing a connective tissue disease. Systemic sclerosis is the connective tissue disease most frequently associated with Raynaud’s phenomenon.” (Bowling, 2003) This syndrome is described as primary Raynaud phenomenon (PRP) if is not associated with another disorder and as secondary Raynaud phenomenon (SRP) if it occurs in association with another disorder.
Over 200,000 Americans suffer from Crohn’s, according to Dr. Richard Curtis, chief of gastroenterology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Though the disease does not target a specific age group, certain risk factors do exist. People who have a genetic predisposition to it are more likely to develop Crohn’s, said Dr. Curtis. For example, people who have a close relative with Crohn’s have a 20 percent chance of being diagnosed with it themselves. Crohn’s is more common in Jews than in non-Jews; it is most common in Ashkenazic Jews than any other group.
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.
Lupus is more common in women than men, and although it can affect people of all ages, it is most commonly developed between 15 and 40. Lupus is also more common in African Americans, Hispanics and Asians.
Males and females appear to be affected proportionately. Crohn’s disease can occur in people of any age, but it is mostly a disease of adolescents and young adults. However, Crohn’s disease may occur in people over 70 years old and in young children (Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America, 2009). “Crohn’s disease appears to be caused by a dysfunctional inflammatory response in the gastrointestinal tract” (U. S. News, 2009). Inflammation is the body’s natural way to heal by sending immune cells to the site of the injury or invader.
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...
Usually your body produces antibodies to fight off invaders such as Viruses or diseases but since Lupus is an autoimmune disease; the immune system can’t tell the difference between foreign invaders and healthy tissues. There 3 types of Lupus Systemic Lupus (most common) which can affect any part of the body, Discoid Lupus which only affects the skin, and Drug induced Lup...
Magro, C., Cohen, D., Bollen, E. L., Buchem M. A., Huizinga, T.W., and Steup-Beekman, G. M. (2013). Demyelinating disease in SLE: is it multiple sclerosis or lupus? Best Practice Res Clinic Rheumatol. 27(3):405-24
Systemic lupus erythematosus, or simply lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease or immune system malfunction. A person's immune system normally protects the person from viruses, bacteria and other foreign materials. When a person has an autoimmune diseases like lupus, the immune system turns against itself and attacks itself.
Most of the studies we reviewed evaluate HRQoL beginning at the time of stroke (Castellanos-Pinedo et al., 2012; Haacke et al., 2006; Haley et al., 2011; Patel et al., 2007; Rønning & Stavem, 2008; Maa et al., 2009), but they do not take into account patient status prior to the stroke, as we do here. The cited studies observed that patients improve over time with respect to the first evaluation. However, our study clearly shows that post-stroke status is worse than baseline status prior to stroke, and that quality of life remains lower during the sub-acute phase of stroke.
It is also estimated that approximately two and half million people are living with the disease... The name multiple sclerosis refers to the scars that are present in the brain and spinal cord is seen on an MRI. An autoimmune disorder is where a person’s immune system mistakes its own white blood cells as invaders and begins to attack itself damaging healthy body tissue. In these types of disorders, the immune system cannot tell the difference between healthy cells and antigens, which are foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses. Because of the damage, it does to the nerve cells; nerve signals can either slow down or stop completely. Inflammation, or the body’s reaction to infection, is what causes this nerve damage to happen. Multiple sclerosis is most commonly seen in the brain, optic nerve, and spinal cord and often leads to physical and cognitive
Psoriasis can occur in anyone, but there are many groups that are at a higher risk. As mentioned above, genetics plays a role. One out of three cases of the disease have had it in their family. Age is also a risk factor. The disease appears most often in adolescence or after the age of sixty. Also, Caucasians are more susceptible to it, whereas African Americans have the lowest overall incidence of it.
As we grow older our bodies begin to degenerate, and stop working. There are many different kinds of diseases that we are subject to as we age, cancers, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, arthritis, and many others. All have a negative affect on our lives, making it difficult to function. Arthritis is the second leading chronic disease in the United States.
“But you don't look sick.”. “If you just exercised more you would feel better.” , “It's all in your head.” , “You are just being lazy.”. These phrases are just a hand full of unkind things that people have said to me, simply because they do not understand my disease. Who could blame them? Doctors do not understand it. Researchers do not understand it. My parents do not understand it. My boyfriend does not understand it. Even I cannot understand it. I have Lupus. It is an unresolved disease that millions of people suffer with. Though there are numerous people diagnosed with lupus, there are very few people who know what it is, and how it impacts us from the time we wake up, to when we finally escape our pain with sleep. In this essay, I will explain what we know about lupus, what the symptoms are, and what kind of treatments are accessible for 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.