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Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Autoimmune Disease

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Affect On the Body
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease. Consequently, all organs and tissues are at risk of being damaged by inflammation. The most affected organs are the kidneys, lungs, heart, and skin (Harvery and Zieve; Simanta, and Mohan). The most affected tissues are the joints, and nervous tissues. The renal system controls blood pressure and blood volume. It also removes waste products and toxins from the blood. SLE causes inflammation of the nephrons, preventing the kidney to properly maintain blood volume and properly filter waste products and toxins (Harvery and Zieve). Kidney inflammation alone will trigger complications throughout the entire body. The lungs are responsible for the gas exchange with the …show more content…

There are only treatments to suppress symptoms, treat complications related to the disease, and relieve discomfort (Harvery and Zieve). The treatments to suppress symptoms include the use of topical creams to treat skin rash. The topical creams used for the treatment of lupus contain corticosteroids to suppress inflammation and immune activity. The use of corticosteroids is essential to suppresses inflammation and immune response. Corticosteroids work by suppressing T cell secretions of cytokines, and suppressing B cells ability to bind with interleukins (Harvery and Zieve; Simanta, and Mohan). Corticosteroids diminish neutrophils adhesion, chemotaxis, phagocytosis, and secretion of toxic substance (Harvery and Zieve; Simanta, and Mohan). Corticosteroids also reduce the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes (Harvery and Zieve; Simanta, and Mohan). A more mild treatment method is the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). These drugs block prostaglandins, therefore, suppressing blood vessel dilation, inflammation, and pain (Harvery and Zieve). On more aggressive cases of SLE the use of immunosuppressant drugs is required. These drugs impedes the production of immune cells. In 2011, the first biological drug made specificly for the treatment of lupus was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (Harvery and Zieve). This drug is called Belimumab. It targets B cells that have lost self-tolerance (Harvery and Zieve; Smcconnell). Because the causes of lupus are not yet well known, there are no prevention

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