Systemic lupus erythematosus

•    is a systemic autoimmune disease (or autoimmune,connective tissue disease) that can affect any part of the body,such as the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys, and nervous system

•    Common initial and chronic complaints include fever, malaise, joint pains, myalgias, fatigue

Causes

•    Genetics

•    environmental factors

•    Drug-induced :procainamide, isoniazid, hydralazine, quinidine, and phenytoin 

American College of Rheumatology Criteria for SLE

any 4 out of 11 symptoms simultaneously

l      Malar rash 

l      Discoid rash

l      photosensitivity

l      oral ulcers

l      arthritis

• pleuritis or pericarditis

l      Blood—hematologic disorder

     hemolytic anemia (low RBC ) 

     leukopenia (WBC <4000/µl)

     lymphopenia (lymphocytes<1500/µl)  thrombocytopenia (platetets<100000/µl)

l       Renal disorder

     More than 0.5 g per day protein in urine or cellular casts seen in urine

l       ANA test:positive

l       Immunologic disorder :

     Positive anti-Smith, anti-ds DNA ,    

     antiphospholipid antibody,

     false positive serological test for syphilis

l       Neurologic disorder:

     Seizures or psychosis  

Treatment

•    corticosteroids

•     anti-malarial drugs.

•    NSAIDs

•    immunosuppressive drugs

•    Intravenous immunoglobulins

•    Prognosis is normally worse for men and children than for women

•    High serum creatinine, hypertension, nephrotic syndrome, anemia and hypoalbuminemia are poor prognostic factors

Causes per TCM

      1. Blood heat syndrome:

      malar rash, oral ulcers, photosensitivity,

     and  (just like nosebleeds)

 2. Qi stagnation:

      arthritis

 Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to study SLE with me.

 References: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia