Lupus Essay, Research Paper

Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder which means that the body’s immune system is not functioning normal and it’s attacking the normal tissue, instead of the bactieria and viruses or in other words the body’s immune system is hurting itself. The body is just reacting to unknown stimilus and it makes too many antibodies, or proteins directed against body tissue. It’s the complete opposite that happens in A.I.D.S. and Cancer a virus or disease breaks down in the immune system unlike Lupus. In some cases it’s because of the autoimmune system. Lupus Erythematous was first knnown as a skin disorder by Pierre Cazenave a Frechman in 1851. But even before the articles were found that went back to Anncient Greece. Lupus got its name because Lupus patients developed markings or rashes that resembled that of a wolf. There are four types of Lupus, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,Discoid Lupus Erythematosus, and Crossover or Overlap Syndrom or Mixed Connection Tissue Disease(MCTD).

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE) is the most common or serious type of lupus. This type is believed to be cause by an autoimmune disorder, but researchers are still looking for a better answer, this attacks the internal organs such as kidneys,lungs,brain,heart, and joints. The signns and symptoms rannge from rashes on the cheeks,Ulcers in your mouth, red palms and hands, joint pain, joint redness, swelling of the joints, their face and legs becomne very swollen, the shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heartbeat, chest pain, hair loss, swelling of lymph glands, protein in the urine, increase sensitivity to thhe sun and last but not least mental chages. The risks of getting this increases with stress and drugs such as Prodralazine, Procainamide, Methyldopa, and Chloromazine. They are possible complications that you cab get another autoimmune disoerder such as Arthritus, Diabetes, and Hypothyroidism. It may also cause complications with impaired kidney functions. This type of lupus can not be prevented or cured right now. Doctors resomend that you take care of your self and keep upp with docctor’s treatments. The treatments unfortunately is very basic only for sores and infections. Staying out of the sun because any more ultraviolet rays can make the disorder worse.

Discoid Lupus Erythematosus is a skin disorder unlike SLE. It applies to you face,ears,scalp, and arms mostly. The signs of DLE are plagues which are red raised elisions. If these appear on the scalp it will bring a bald spot of hair. The prevention is something that is not that easy to do, keep out of the sun for long periods, this will make the disorder less serious. For a doctor to diagnose this disorder he will examine your medical history, examine your body, blood work, and biopsy of the skin. (removeing a piece of skin and testing it) If you have lupus you need to take care of it by keeping your heath up to date and your treatments, like going outside from 10:00 A.M. to like 2:00 P.M. But if you do have to go outside you have to protect your body from the ultraviolet raays. Your doctor might give you injections of Triamcinine, or steroids to decrease the redness of the elisions. There are no special diets or restrictions for this type of lupus.

Drug Induced Lupus Erythematosus (DILE) occurs when a patient develops the disease for the first time by a prescription drug. Drugs cause lupus because the drug binds with the part of the cell that makes DNA, then the chemical activates the system to do the same thing it does in an autoimmune disorder. Any prescription drug that has Sulfa in itt makes the disorder flare u because they are sun sensitizes,some antibiotics even contain Sulfa. Usually doctors are verycautious in giveing any patient any drugs with sulfa in them even though most people can tolorate it. An example of one is penicillin. There are 15-20,000 new cases of DILE reported yearly in the United States alone. There are three ways that you can tell the differance between DILE and SLE are, first Drug Induced Lupus Erythematosus is equally reported in men and women unlike Systemic Lupus Erythematosus which mostly occurs in women. Seconndly Drug Induced Lupus Erythematosus is rarely reported in African Americans, unlike Systemic Lupus Erythematosus that is found is Aafrican Americans,Latinos, and Asians. Thhrid, for Drug Induced Lupus Erythematosus the average age of geting it is like 60 years old, and in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus it is averaged in 30-40 years old.

Finally is Crossover or Overlaped Syndrom or Mixed Connection Tissue Disease which is the combinations of clinical and laboratory findings. The conditions of a person that has this is that thhe patient gets puffy hands,bad case of heartburn, and swallowing problems. They must test positive to the ANA test and to the anti RNP. And they have scares on their lungs which can be seen in x-rays. This disease has inflammatory of small and medium sized arteries and arterioles. It is very rare that they have either kidney disease or brain involvment and respond to cortrisone type drugs.

Close to one million people are suffering in the United States with Lupus today. The nationalities affected with Lupus are mostly Latinos, African Americans, Asains, and Sioux Indians. For Asians is is a more organ threatting disease. And the Sioux have ten times more cases of Lupus reported than any other tribe.