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NSGSUX-SLE
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is SLE? | A multisystem inflammatory disease of autoimmune origin |
| Who is usually affected by SLE? | Women in childbearing years esp African Americans, after menarche, with the use of oral contraceptives, and during and after pregnancy |
| What are the origins of SLE? | interactions among genetic, hormonal, and immunologic factors |
| What is the etiology of SLE? | unknown |
| When does SLE tend to worsen for women? | after the immediate postpartum period |
| What are the most significant environmental triggers of SLE? | sun exposure and sunburns |
| Which drugs aggravate SLE? | procainamide (Pronestryl), hydralazine (Apresoline), and antiseizure drugs |
| What is SLE characterized by? | production of a large variety of autoantibodies |
| What is the progressive pattern of manifestations in the progression of SLE? | there are no specific patterns |
| Which organs can be affected by the accumulation of circulating immune complexes? | any organ |
| What are the most commonly affected tissues in SLE? | skin, muscle, lining of the lungs, the heart, nervous tissue, and kidneys |
| What are the generalized complaints of SLE that may precede disease activity? | fever, weight loss, arthralgia, and excessive fatigue |
| What is subacute cutaneous lupus? | Patients that have persistent lesions, photosensitivity, and mild systemic disease |
| What is the most common dermatologic manifestation of SLE? | butterfly rash or malar rash |
| What are the dermatological manifestations of SLE? | butterfly rash, persistent lesions, photosensitivity, ulcers, alopecia |
| What are the musculoskeletal manifestations of SLE? | polyarthralgia with morning stiffness, arthritis, diffuse swelling, joint and muscle pain, deformities such as swan neck, ulnar deviation, and subluxation |
| What does tachypnea and cough in a patient with SLE suggest? | restrictive lung disease |
| What are the cardiopulmonary manifestations of SLE?? | tachypnea, cough, pleurisy, pleural effusion, dysrhythmias, pericarditis, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, CAD |
| Why do people with SLE develop dysrhythmias? | fibrosis of the SA and AV node |
| In which SLE patient is the likelyhood of developing CAD higher? | those taking corticosteroids or those who have renal problems |
| What is the primary goal of treating lupus nephritis? | slow the progression of neuropathy and preserve renal function by managing the underlying disease |
| What are the renal problems related to SLE? | lupus nephritis, proteinuria, glomerulonephritis |
| Why would you consider obtaining a renal biopsy on an SLE patient? | to guide renal treatment |
| Which drugs are given to treat renal problems in patients with SLE? | corticosteroids, cytotoxic agents (cyclophosphamide or Cytoxan), and immunosuppressants such as azathioprine (Imuran) and cyclosporine (Sandimmune); oral prednisone, pulsed IV methylprednisolone, and mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept) |
| What are the neurologic manifestations of SLE? | seizures, peripheral neuropathy, cognitive dysfunction, disordered thought process, disorientation, memory deficits, svere depression and psychoses, stroke, aseptic meningitis, headache |
| What are some of the hematological problems associated with SLE? | anemia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia |
| What is a major cause of death in those with SLE? | infection |
| WHat is the most common infection in SLE patients? | pneumonia |
| WHy do SLE patients have an increased risk for infection? | defects in ability to phagocytize bacteria, deficient production of antibodies, immunosuppressant effects of antiinflammatory drugs |
| Which SLE patients should avoid vaccines? | Those who wish to receive live virus vaccines who are being treated with corticosteroids or cytotoxic agents |
| Is fever serious for the SLE patient | yes-may indicate underlying infection |