Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Nursing SLE NCLEX Review: Pathophysiology, Symptoms, Treatment
RegisteredNurseRN・21 minutes read
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune condition affecting various organs and tissues, with no cure but multiple treatment options available to manage symptoms. Diagnosis is challenging due to the chronic nature of the disease, affecting mainly women in childbearing years, with risk factors including genetic predisposition and environmental causes.
Insights
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune condition that affects various organs and tissues, causing inflammation and leading to a range of symptoms from joint pain to kidney inflammation, impacting women, especially those of black, Latina, and Asian descent in childbearing years.
- Diagnosis and management of SLE involve a complex interplay of genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and hormonal influences, requiring a comprehensive approach that includes monitoring key labs like ANA and CRP, utilizing medications such as steroids and immunomodulators, and providing patient education on disease understanding, medication management, and pregnancy planning to enhance quality of life and reduce flare-ups.
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Recent questions
What is systemic lupus erythematosus?
SLE is an autoimmune condition causing inflammation in organs, tissues, and joints.
What are the symptoms of SLE?
Symptoms vary but can affect joints, skin, lungs, heart, kidneys, brain, and blood system.
How is systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosed?
Diagnosis involves tests like ANA, anti-double stranded DNA antibody, anti-Smith antibody, ESR, CRP, and complement tests.
What treatments are available for SLE?
Treatments include steroids, NSAIDs, anti-malarial drugs, immunomodulators, and biologics.
Who is at risk for developing SLE?
Risk factors include genetic predisposition, sun exposure, infections, certain medications, and hormonal influence in women.
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Summary
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Understanding Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Symptoms and Care
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune condition causing severe inflammation targeting organs, tissues, and joints.
- SLE affects various body structures, leading to mild to severe symptoms in joints, skin, lungs, heart, kidneys, brain, and blood system.
- SLE is chronic, with flare-ups and remission periods, making diagnosis challenging and requiring thorough investigation.
- SLE has no cure but multiple treatments exist to enhance quality of life, reduce flare-ups, and maintain remission.
- SLE types include SLE, affecting women, especially black, Latina, and Asian women in childbearing years, possibly linked to hormonal influence.
- Risk factors for SLE include genetic predisposition, environmental causes like sun exposure, infections, and certain medications.
- SLE pathophysiology involves ineffective phagocytosis of apoptotic bodies, leading to immune complex formation, inflammation, and potential organ damage.
- SLE symptoms vary but can affect eyes, mouth, brain, causing fatigue, skin rashes, heart issues, lung problems, kidney inflammation, blood system complications, and joint/muscle pain.
- Nursing care for SLE patients involves monitoring kidney function, urine protein, urinary output, weight, joint pain management, joint mobility preservation, and patient education on disease understanding, medication management, and pregnancy planning.
- Key labs for diagnosing and monitoring SLE include antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-double stranded DNA antibody, anti-Smith antibody, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), and complement tests to assess inflammation and autoimmune activity.
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Managing Lupus: Treatments and Considerations
- Proteins like C3 and C4 are depleted during inflammation, indicating its occurrence, while a complete blood count can reveal anemia and renal function status.
- Medications for lupus include steroids like prednisone for quick inflammation relief, NSAIDs for joint pain (but with potential GI issues), and anti-malarial drugs like hydroxychloroquine for long-term control, requiring regular eye checks.
- Immunomodulators such as azathioprine suppress the immune system, reducing steroid use, but increasing infection risk, necessitating vigilant monitoring and vaccination.
- Biologics like belimumab target B cells to decrease antibody attacks and inflammation, requiring time for effect, and infusion or injection administration.
- Patients must avoid live vaccines, monitor for depression, and assess for infection risk while on biologics, with pregnancy considerations due to increased miscarriage risk and postpartum flares.
