What Is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
What is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (S.L.E)
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease which causes inflammation of your joints, tissues, and organs. The inflammation presents itself as heat, pain, swelling and redness. SLE is a variable disease that doesn’t take any one particular course; therefore its unpredictability makes it even more devastating. No two people will experience the same disease symptoms or severity level. As S.L.E progresses there will be periods of very subtle to no symptoms at all called remission or an exacerbation of symptoms called flares. Normally the body is protected by the immune system. When the immune system detects an unwelcome visitor such as fungi, bacteria and or viruses the bodies natural reaction would be for the immune system to seek and destroy these nasty invaders. In people who suffer from lupus the immune system malfunctions and no longer has the ability to distinguish normal antibodies from the invaders called antigens. The body fights against itself, launching an attack on the bodies own tissues, blood cells, joints and vital organs. According to recent studies, 90% of people suffering from Lupus are young women in their childbearing age. However, children, older men and women can also be affected. The diagnosis of S.L.E can be a long and tedious process. S.L.E is diagnosed based primarily on its symptoms and a few blood test, non of which can definitively diagnose the disease. Due to its vast variety of symptoms, distinguishing S.L.E from similar diseases is very difficult. There are several ways to obtain the many different pieces to the puzzle. Laboratory test, spinal taps and biopsies are the most commonly used diagnostic test and procedures used to confirm a S.L.E diagnosis. Diagnosing S.L.E The first step in diagnosing S.L.E is obtaining a complete medical history and list of symptoms and complaints. This will give the physician a direction to go and an idea of
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a chronic autoimmune disease which causes inflammation of your joints, tissues, and organs. The inflammation presents itself as heat, pain, swelling and redness. SLE is a variable disease that doesn’t take any one particular course; therefore its unpredictability makes it even more devastating. No two people will experience the same disease symptoms or severity level. As S.L.E progresses there will be periods of very subtle to no symptoms at all called remission or an exacerbation of symptoms called flares. Normally the body is protected by the immune system. When the immune system detects an unwelcome visitor such as fungi, bacteria and or viruses the bodies natural reaction would be for the immune system to seek and destroy these nasty invaders. In people who suffer from lupus the immune system malfunctions and no longer has the ability to distinguish normal antibodies from the invaders called antigens. The body fights against itself, launching an attack on the bodies own tissues, blood cells, joints and vital organs. According to recent studies, 90% of people suffering from Lupus are young women in their childbearing age. However, children, older men and women can also be affected. The diagnosis of S.L.E can be a long and tedious process. S.L.E is diagnosed based primarily on its symptoms and a few blood test, non of which can definitively diagnose the disease. Due to its vast variety of symptoms, distinguishing S.L.E from similar diseases is very difficult. There are several ways to obtain the many different pieces to the puzzle. Laboratory test, spinal taps and biopsies are the most commonly used diagnostic test and procedures used to confirm a S.L.E diagnosis. Diagnosing S.L.E The first step in diagnosing S.L.E is obtaining a complete medical history and list of symptoms and complaints. This will give the physician a direction to go and an idea of