Oral Manifestations of Lupus Erythematosus
Oral Manifestations of Lupus
Oral Manifestations of Lupus Erythematosis
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus for short, is a chronic and generally progressive autoimmune disease affecting many tissues in the body (Lupus Foundation of America, 2015). The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2015) discriminates between SLE and lupus affecting the skin only (discoid/cutaneous lupus erythematosis) or that caused by medications (temporary). SLE and cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) are the only two types of lupus relevant to this article, since temporary lupus can be treated effectively by changing medication. Prevalence estimates vary considerably, but in the United States an estimated 161,000 individuals have a definitive diagnosis of SLE. Information about incidence rates is equally poor, but the most recent study found that 5.6 out of 100,000 Whites in Rochester, Minnesota developed SLE between 1980 and 1992. What follows is a detailed examination of lupus erythematosus (LE), oral manifestations of this disease, and a discussion of the recommended treatment approaches.
BRIEF 1:
Lupus is caused by a person's immune system malfunctioning and the generation and expansion of auto-antibodies recognizing healthy tissue (Lupus Foundation of America, 2015). The targeted tissues in turn suffer from chronic and often progressively painful inflammation and localized tissue damage. Although the disease can manifest at any point in person's lifespan, minority women between the ages of 15 and 40 represent the demographic with the highest incidence rates (CDC, 2015). The cause of the disease is unknown, but infections or other environmental factors may trigger disease onset in genetically susceptible individuals (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014a). Only a small number individuals, however, who have a family history of autoimmune disease will develop LE, so it is hard to predict which family members will develop the disease. The signs and symptoms associated with SLE include arthritis, skin rashes, photosensitivity, pleuritis, pericarditis, blood cell abnormalities, kidney problems, seizures, and psychosis, but most relevant to this discussion is the manifestation of oral ulcers. The primary treatment approaches rely on the administration of immunosuppressants, which are effective is slowing disease progression and minimizing flares. Flares can be life-threatening and hospitalizations...
CellCept drug for the treatment of kidney complications could be a boon to lupus patients (Chang, 2005). A small study showed that the drug delivered better results than standard chemotherapy, which could cause infertility and other medical problems. A recent experiment compared the effects of CellCept and the older treatment, cyclophosphamide, in patients for 6 months. Those taking CellCept reported fewer side effects. The researchers were led by Dr. Ellen
The most common cause of death is infection due to immunosuppression, a result in turn of medications intended to manage the disease. Chances are worse for men and children than for women. After the age of 60, the disease tends to turn benign. The only marker of prognosis in lupus is the anti-ds DNA antibody test and the most sensitive is the Anti-Smith test (Wikipedia) The standard treatment for lupus
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Case Study Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, life-long autoimmune disease that affects multiple tissues and organs in the body (Madhok and Wu, 2009). The primary tissues and organs affected by immune system dysfunction are the joints, kidneys, vessel walls, and skin. SLE is believed to be due to an interaction between genetic factors and environmental triggers. The disease is also more prevalent among women,
Anti-Smith antigen is observed in 25% of patients with SLE overall, with 10-20% whites and 30-40% blacks and Asians and Lupus erythematosus (LE) preparation is found in most patients with active SLE. Treating the active phase of the disease without allowing the treatment itself to cause long-term damage to the patient is the major challenge for doctors. As a result of this physicians are now less hesitant to use immunosuppressive
Another caution that exists for people suffering from lupus is to exercise caution before and after receiving dental treatment. Lupus patients could develop serious heart infections from the streptococci that might be released into their bloodstream during routine dental procedures, even bi-annual teeth cleanings (Blau and Schultz, 174). The infection can travel to the heart when the patient has certain other manifestations of lupus, and, if the patient has developed
"Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) is a broad term that describes conditions with chronic or recurring immune response and inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The two most common inflammatory bowel diseases are ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease" (IBD, 2013, CDC). Ulcerative colitis affects the large colon; Crohn's usually affects the small colon and the beginning portion of the large colon. Regardless in both manifestations of IBD, the body attacks the
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now