Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus, often known simply as lupus or abbreviated to SLE, is a systemic autoimmune disease or an autoimmune connective tissue disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body 's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. It is a hypersensitivity reaction of the type III variety, caused by antibody-immune complex formation. There are several explanations put forth for the term lupus erythematosus. Lupus is Latin for wolf, and "erythro" is derived from Greek for "red." All explanations originate with the reddish, butterfly-shaped malar rash that the disease classically exhibits across the nose and cheeks. In various accounts, some doctors thought the rash resembled the pattern of fur on a wolf 's face. In other accounts, doctors thought that the rash, which was often more severe in earlier centuries, created lesions that resembled wolf bites or scratches. Another account claims that the term "lupus" did not come from Latin directly, but from the term for a French style of mask that women reportedly wore to conceal the rash on their faces. The mask is called a "loup," French for "wolf."
There are actually an entire class of diseases known as lupus that are lesser components of SLE. SLE most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions. The disease occurs nine times more often in women than in men, especially in women in child-bearing years ages 15 to 35, and is also more common in those of non-European descent. Most often respiratory therapists work with lupus patients when a flare affects lung and pleura inflammation. SLE is treatable using immunosuppression, mainly with a drug known as cyclophosphamide, as well as corticosteroids and other
Systemic lupus erythematosus, often known simply as lupus or abbreviated to SLE, is a systemic autoimmune disease or an autoimmune connective tissue disease that can affect any part of the body. As occurs in other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body 's cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. It is a hypersensitivity reaction of the type III variety, caused by antibody-immune complex formation. There are several explanations put forth for the term lupus erythematosus. Lupus is Latin for wolf, and "erythro" is derived from Greek for "red." All explanations originate with the reddish, butterfly-shaped malar rash that the disease classically exhibits across the nose and cheeks. In various accounts, some doctors thought the rash resembled the pattern of fur on a wolf 's face. In other accounts, doctors thought that the rash, which was often more severe in earlier centuries, created lesions that resembled wolf bites or scratches. Another account claims that the term "lupus" did not come from Latin directly, but from the term for a French style of mask that women reportedly wore to conceal the rash on their faces. The mask is called a "loup," French for "wolf."
There are actually an entire class of diseases known as lupus that are lesser components of SLE. SLE most often harms the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system. The course of the disease is unpredictable, with periods of illness (called flares) alternating with remissions. The disease occurs nine times more often in women than in men, especially in women in child-bearing years ages 15 to 35, and is also more common in those of non-European descent. Most often respiratory therapists work with lupus patients when a flare affects lung and pleura inflammation. SLE is treatable using immunosuppression, mainly with a drug known as cyclophosphamide, as well as corticosteroids and other
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