Points To Cover:

•What Is It

•What Causes It

•Signs And Symptoms

•Treatment

•Conflicting Info

•????

•Autoimmune Disorder Causing The Bodies Immune System To Attack It’s

Own Healthy Cells And Tissues.

•Inflammation And Damage To The Joints, Tendons, Other Connective Tissues, And

Organs, Including The Heart, Lungs, Blood Vessels, Brain, Kidneys, And Skin.

•Lupus Can Be Fatal If Not Treated.

•Constant Attack To Organs And Connective Tissue Can Lead To Many

Different Life Threatening Issues.

•Lupus Can Range From Dormant To Severe

•Is 5 Times More Likely To Be Found In Women.

•Not Understood What Causes Lupus But There Are Factors Involved That Are Thought To Contribute To It’s Onset.

•Research Points To Lupus Being Genetic.

•Although You May Genetically Have Lupus, A Trigger Is Needed To Bring On

The Autoimmune Process.

•Triggers Are Usually Cause By An Immune Response From Your Body. This

Includes Infections, Colds, Virus’, Allergies, Ect….

•Another Thought To Be Trigger Is An Increased Level Of Estrogen.

• Some Women Get Lupus After Having Children Because Of Their Fluctuation

Estrogen Levels.

•There Is Also A Theory That Lupus Maybe Caused By Some Medications. This

Is Called Drug Induced Lupus And Is Considered A Side Effect Of These Six

Drugs:

• Hydralazine (Used For High Blood Pressure), Quinidine And Procainamide

(Used For Abnormal Heart Rhythm), Phenytoin (Used For Epilepsy), Isoniazid (Used For Tuberculosis), d-penicillamine

(Used For Rheumatoid Arthritis)

•Rash On Face In A Butterfly Shape

•Raised Rash On Arms, Back, Head, Or Chest With Hair loss

•Swelling, Pain, Or Stiffness In Joints

•Pain And Weakness In Muscles

•Damage To Blood Vessels Causing Nerve And Organ Ischemia/Damage

•Pleuritis And Pericarditis

•Raynaud’s Syndrome

Most Life Threatening S/S Is The S/S’s Of Renal Failure

•Metabolic Acidosis

•Electrolyte Imbalance

•Hypertension

•Lethargy

•Ect..

•Emergently You Will Treat Symptomatically

•Most Patients In A Life Threatening State Know They Have The Disorder

•Only Form In A Higher Than Mild State Will Be Treated With Drugs Like:

Hydroxychloroquine, Quinacrine, Chloroquine, Or A Combination Of These

Medications

Most Confliction Information Is In Relation To The Cause Of Lupus.

•Medecinenet.com

•OHSU.edu

•Rick O’Hara

•Suzy Shadrick

•Anatomy and Physiology: The unity of form and function. Saladin