Lupus Erythematosus Paige Ramsett

Description Lupus is an autoimmune disease – meaning an abnormal response of the immune system to tissues and other materials normally found in the body. In this particular case, the body decides to attack and destroy healthy tissue affecting joints, skin, the brain, and other organs.

Scientific Description Lupus is an inflammatory disease infecting the upper dermis and epidermis Chronic cutaneous (discoid) lupus Subacute cutaneous lupus Acute cutaneous lupus Red, scaly, thick, disc- shaped lesions over time cause discoloration scaring and hair loss from placement (permanent w/scarring) cancer( squamous cell carcin oma) Areas of red scaly skin w/defined edges or red ring-shaped lesions normally don’t itch or scar but can become discolored photosensitive/avoid UV rays and fluorescent lights Occur when systemic lupus is active causing redness on the cheeks and nose like a sunburn malar rash/ “butterfly rash” normally no scaring can present on limbs too very photosensitive w/ discoloration in skin sometimes

Subacute cutaneous lupus Chronic cutaneous (discoid) lupus

Signs/Symptoms Other diseases can present with lupus as symptom or be brought on by it such as: Calcinosis, Cutaneous vasculitis lesions, Raynaud’s phenomenon, Livedo reticularis and palmar erythema, Mucosal ulcerations, Petechiae More common symptoms include: Swollen lymph nodes, sunlight sensitivity, hair loss, mouth sores, chest pain with deep breaths, fever with no other cause, and fatigue Depending on the part of the body effected the symptoms may change Nervous system: Headaches, numbness, tingling, seizures, vision problems, and personality changes Digestive tract: Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting Heart: Abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias) Lung: Coughing up blood, difficulty breathing Skin: Patchy skin color, fingers that change color when cold Kidney: Swelling in the legs, weight gain

Causes The true cause of SLE is not known, but SLE is more common in females than males (normally from the ages of 15-44). For cutaneous lupus, some environmental triggers can be: medications, viruses, sunlight and UV light promoting cell death, and hereditary aspects

Cure Unfortunately, No cure exists for Lupus, therefore the main goal is to control the symptoms Wear protective clothing, sunglasses, and sunscreen when in the sun. Get preventive heart care. Stay up-to-date with immunizations. Have tests to screen for thinning of the bones (osteoporosis). Avoid tobacco and drink minimal amounts of alcohol For mild forms: NSAIDs for joint symptoms and pleurisy Low doses of corticosteroids for skin and arthritis symptoms Corticosteroid creams for skin rashes Hydroxychloroquine, a drug also used to treat malaria For more severe SLE: High-dose corticosteroids Immunosuppressive drugs (drugs which dampen or suppress the immune system) Blood thinners, for clotting disorders

Worst Case Senario Blood clots in arteries of veins of the legs, lungs, brain, or intestines Destruction of red blood cells or anemia of chronic disease Fluid around the heart (pericarditis), or inflammation of the heart (myocarditis or endocarditis) Fluid around the lungs and damage to lung tissue Pregnancy problems, including miscarriage Stroke Severely low blood platelet count (platelets are needed to stop any bleeding) Inflammation of the blood vessels Both SLE and some of the medicines used for SLE can harm an unborn child All can cause DEATH

Facts Lupus is a leading cause of premature cardiovascular disease, kidney disease and stroke among young women More than 90% of lupus sufferers are women In Latin, lupus means wolf, and erythematosus means redness. In the 18th century, doctors who first treated the disease noticed a common symptom: a red rash on the face and thought looked liked a wolf, or lupus, bite Lupus is known as “the great imitator” because it’s symptoms mimic those of other diseases More than 16,000 new cases of lupus are reported annually across the United State

Citations http://www.jointessential.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Systems-affected-by-SLE.png http://www.regionalderm.com/Regional_Derm/RD_Small/Cutaneous_lupus9.jpg http://www.dermis.net/bilder/CD193/550px/img0117.jpg http://dermaamin.com/site/images/clinical-pic/a/acute_cutaneous_lupus_erythematosus/acute_cutaneous_lupus_erythematosus5.jpg http://smartkeeda.com/Myfiles/images/Piechat25thaprl1.png https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/41/64/22/416422403c6ecfefe2a7f9b92bbc1d24.jpg