Systematic Lupus Erythematosus

Systematic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) 

• SLE is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. It may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and other organs.

Causes

• The underlying cause of autoimmune diseases is not fully known
• SLE is much more common in women that in men. It may occur at any age but appears most often in people between 10 and 50. African Americans and Asians are affected more often than people from other races
• SLE may also be caused by certain drugs

Symptoms

• Symptoms vary from person to person, and may come and go. Almost everyone with SLE has joint pain and swelling. Some develop arthritis. Frequently affected joints are fingers, hands, wrists and knees.
• Other common symptoms include:
1. Chest pain when taking a deep breath
2. Fatigue
3. Fever with no other cause
4. General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
5. Hair loss
6. Mouth sores
7. Sensitivity to sunlight
8. Skin rash -- a "butterfly" rash over the cheeks and bridge of the nose which can get worse in sunlight
9. Swollen lymph nodes

 Treatment

•  There is no cure for SLE. The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms
• Mild disease may be treated with:
1. Non steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) treat athritis and pleurisy
2. Corticosteroid creams to treat skin rashes
3. An anti-malaria drug (hydroxychloroquine) and low dose corticosteroids for skin and arthritis symptoms

• Wear protective clothing, sun glasses,  and sunscreen when in the sun

Prognosis

• How well a person does depends on the severity of the disease
• The outcome for people with SLE has improved in recent years. Many people with SLE have mild synptoms
• Women with SLE who become pregnant are often able to carry safely to tern and deliver a healthy infant, as long as they do not have severe kidney or heart disease and the SLE is being treated appropriately. However, the presence of SLE antibodies may increase the risk of pregnancy loss

Complications

• SLE causes damage to many different parts of the body, including:
1. Blood clots in the legs or lungs
2. Destruction of red blood cells or anemia
3. Fluid around the heart or inflammation of the heart
4. Fluid around the lungs and damage to the lung tissue
5. Pregnancy complications, including miscarriage
6. Stroke
7. Severely low blood platelets
8. Inflammation of the blood vessels

Source:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001471/