SLE Flashcards
what is SLE?
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an inflammatory connective tissue disease with variable manifestations.
Clinical Presentation
SLE can affect many organs of the body, but it rarely affects them all. The following list includes
common signs and symptoms of SLE in order of the most to least prevalent.
All of the below symptoms might not be present at the initial diagnosis of SLE, but as the disease progresses more of a person’s organ systems become involved.[6]
The most common symptoms associated with SLE are:
Constitutional symptoms (fever, malaise, fatigue, weight loss): most commonly fatigue and a low-grade fever Achy joints (arthralgia) Arthritis (inflamed joints) Discoid rash skin
rashes R top facial rash, bottom discoid rash
Pulmonary involvement (symptoms include: chest pain, difficulty breathing, and cough)
Anemia
Kidney involvement (lupus nephritis)
Sensitivity to the sun or light (photosensitivity)
Hair loss
Raynaud’s phenomenon
CNS involvement (seizures, headaches, peripheral neuropathy, cranial neuropathy, cerebrovascular accidents, organic brain syndrome, psychosis)
Mouth, nose, or vaginal ulcers”[5]
The most common signs and symptoms of SLE in children and adolescents are: “fever, fatigue, weight loss, arthritis, rash, and renal disease.”[7]
Systemic Involvement
There are many visceral systems can be affected from SLE, but the extent of the body’s involvement differs from person to person. Some people diagnosed with SLE have only few visceral systems involved, while others have numerous systems that have been affected by the disease.
Musculoskeletal System
Arthritis- typically affects hand, wrists, and knees Arthralgia Tenosynovitis Tendon ruptures Swan-neck deformity Ulnar drift Cardiopulmonary/Cardiovascular System
Pleuritis Pericarditis Dyspnea Hypertension Myocarditis Endocarditis Tachycarditis Pneumonitis Vasculitis Central Nervous System
Emotional instability Psychosis Seizures Cerebrovascular accidents cranial neuropathy
Peripheral neuropathy
Organic brain syndrome
Renal System
Glomerulonephritis -inflammatory disease of the kidneys Hematuria Proteinuria Kidney failure[5] Cutaneous System
Calcinosis Cutaneous vasculitis Hair loss Raynaud's phenomenon Mucosal ulcers Petechiae Blood Disorders
Anemia Thrombocytopenia Leukopenia Neutropenia Thrombosis Gastrointestinal System ulcer throat & mouth
Ulcerative colitis/Crohn's disease Peritonitis Ascites Pancreatitis Peptic ulcers Autoimmune Hepatitis [8]
