Essay Example on SLE: Systemic Lupus Erythematous, A Widespread Inflammatory Disease

Criteria 1

Systematic Lupus erythematous (SLE) is the dominant type of Lupus. SLE can be described as an immune illness where the immune system tends to attack tissues composed within it, thus resulting in a widespread inflammatory of organs and tissue-damaging in regions of affected organs (Mok et al., 2003). This disease can interfere with the normal biological functioning of various organs in the body, like; brain, skin, kidneys, joints, and blood vessels. SLE is a disease whose symptoms can range from mild to fatal extreme. The leading cause of SLE condition is not yet established, though it is believed to have a link with the environmental, genetic, and hormonal factors (Belmont et al., 1996).

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Patients suffering from the SLE disease can experience an extensive range of signs and symptoms; hair loss and thinning, fatigue, fevers, rashes, joint swelling, or pain within the joints, skin (Mok et al., 2003). A fraction of patients suffering from a period of SLE symptoms- Flares might sometimes experience these symptoms throughout the year as other times, and it undergoes a remission state (Doreau et al., 2009). Nevertheless, some other adults might encounter SLE flares in a regular recurrent cycle all through their lifetime. Besides, other symptoms involve sun sensitivity, arthritis, heart complications, lung issues, kidney complications, oral ulcers, seizures, blood cell, and immunological extremes and psychosis (Doreau et al., 2009). SLE can pose both long-term and short-term effects in an individual’s life. No single test can be accounted for diagnosing SLE, but screening provides the doctor with detailed information concerning the SLE. These screening include; a urinalysis test, a chest X-ray test, a blood test- antibodies test and complete blood count, and one might be referred to as a rheumatologist if the need arises (Doreau et al., 2009). Early diagnosis with effective treatment can boost the chances to. Statistics from the Lupus foundation indicate that approximately 1.5 million Americans diagnosed with Lupus.

Nevertheless, this number tends to be higher in the real sense since some of these indicators go unnoticed. SLE is registered to have a more profound effect on women than in men. Also, there might be the presence of experiencing severe symptoms during pregnancy and as well with the menses (Doreau et al., 2009). Thus, resulting in some conclusions from the professionals that estrogen hormone in females might be playing a significant role in causing SLE. However, there is a need for more studies to justify the theory. Besides, SLE can lead to complications encountered during pregnancy to the extent of miscarriage; hence there is a need to talk with one's doctor to minimize the risks (Doreau et al., 2009).

Normal anatomy of the significant body system effected (criteria 2):

As stated earlier that Lupus is a state where the body is attacked for a long-term chronic inflammation of the autoimmune disease. However, the cause is not yet identified the scientists suggest that both the genetic and environmental factors might be involved (Mok et al., 2003). These inflammations present themselves as heat, pain, swelling, and redness on the skin. Primarily, SLE attacks the body cells and tissue; thus, the exhibited inflammation and tissue-damaging (Belmont et al., 1996).

Body cells- The human body consists of many different kinds of cells that make up the tissues and the organ system that functions together to form an organism. Cells in the human body approximate trillions, and they do appear in all shapes and sizes (Doreau et al., 2009). A cell is the basic unit of a living organism. These organ systems do ensure that homeostasis and viability of the organism's body are comprised of the head, neck, and trunk; thorax and the abdomen, arms, and hands, legs, and feet are included (Doreau et al., 2009). The study of the cell is regarded as cytology. A cell consists of a cytoplasm enclosed with a thin membrane with many biomolecules, proteins, and nucleic acids. The cells are only visible when viewed under a microscope since they are so tiny.

Brain- The human brain does account for an approximate of 80 billion of the total cells in humans. Each cell is characterized by biological processing, which involves cell signaling. Nerve cells- also considered neurons and are active elements of the nervous system (Doreau et al., 2009). They communicate with each other, just like other cells through the nerve impulses, thus allowing the effector organs to respond appropriately to the stimuli (Doreau et al., 2009). Nerve cells can also be identified as receivers and transmitters of information. Neurons consist of; cell body, dendrites, axon, myelin sheath cells, nodes of Ranvier, and axon terminal bundle (Doreau et al., 2009). The nervous system can be categorized into three sections:

• The central nervous system (CNS),
• The peripheral nervous system (PNS) and,
• The autonomic nervous system (ANS).

As mentioned above, the sections mentioned are ways in which the SLE patient can be affected by the nervous system.

Muscles- typically, muscle cells are myocyte. These cells have a unique characteristic of shortening their length with the help of motor proteins that are aligned within the cell. The thick and thin filaments formed by actin and myosin slide past one another during the contraction of small muscle units (Belmont et al., 1996). These units are considered as sarcomeres that run within the larger fibers from end to end, thus the myofibril. The muscle cell is relatively long in comparison to other cell forms. Many muscle cells connect to form the long fibers in the muscle tissues. These cells are densely packed with mitochondria organelles to facilitate the cells with sufficient ATP (Belmont et al., 1996).

Endothelial cells- these cells act as an interface between the blood is circulating and the lumen—the line in the inner side of every blood vessel in an organism. Endothelium walls consist of muscle cells and elastic fibers (Belmont et al., 1996). Endothelium primarily acts as a barrier within the brain. This layer is selectively permeable, thus acting as a barrier between the blood flowing vessels and the brain tissue. Essential substances like oxygen, hormones, and enzymes are allowed to pass through, and the waste substances - carbon dioxide released by the neurons diffuse out through from the brain to the blood (Belmont et al., 1996).

Normal physiology of the significant body system effected (Criteria 3):

Muscle cells- this is a category of body cells that form muscle tissues and are responsible for human body movement. The three types of muscle cells are; skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscles. Primarily the muscle fibers are protected and supported by connective tissue (Doreau et al., 2009).

Cardiac muscles- Heart consists of the cardiac muscles that no physical effort is required for it to operate. These cells typically aid the heart contractions and are connected by the intercalated discs that provide the heart with a synchronized heartbeat (Doreau et al., 2009).

Smooth muscles are involuntarily lined up along the body cavities, thus forming the walls of many organs like; kidney, blood vessels, and lung air passages.

Nerve cells are responsible for transmitting signals to the brain, spinal cord, and other organs through nerve impulse production (Doreau et al., 2009).

Endothelial cells facilitate the formation of the inner lining of the cardiovascular system and the lymphatic structures. They uniquely regulate the fluid filtration process, for instance, in the glomerulus of the kidney. Some organs are associated with such; skin, lungs, heart, and the brain. Skin cells are responsible for protecting the internal structures of the body from being damaged (Belmont et al., 1996).

Body tissues- Outlined earlier that cells form tissues. Connective tissue membranes are responsible for the encapsulating the organs like the kidney and the movable joints. The epithelial tissues are accountable for the skin and movement of materials across while the nervous tissues are responsible for propagating information (Doreau et al., 2009).

Mechanism of Pathophysiology (Criteria 4):

Virtually from the pathophysiology of endothelial cells, they are known to create a barrier between the blood and the other body tissues. It only allows passage of essential substances into the brain and waste substances out of the brain (Doreau et al., 2009). Endothelial cells in the body do respond to the pathogens or any form of germs/ toxic intruding the body by causing the intruded site to become swollen, red, and hot. The epithelium cells facilitate this process by an increase of blood flow and enhancing the passage of white blood cells, thus move through to the infected tissues. Besides, they regulate the blood flow by releasing a substance that would make the blood vessels to expand and contract (Doreau et al., 2009). Myasthenia Gravis is a condition where the immune system proteins inhibit the chemical interconnection between the nervous system and the muscle coordination, thus preventing the regular muscle contraction resulting in muscle weakening. All muscles involved in breathing, arm, and leg movement, chewing, talking, facial expression can be affected holistically (Doreau et al., 2009).

From the pathology of the SLE, the brain and the heart seems to be the most affected organs, which acts as the primary control of all organism functions. Different categories of cells operate within the brain; the nerve cells responsible for relaying information in response to stimuli tend to be affected. The immune system which has been invaded tends to attack the body's tissues, thus causing inflammation in different parts within the organism (Belmont et al., 1996). A good example is the inflammation of joints, which is described as arthritis. The nervous system infection is through the attack of antibodies which are responsible for binding the nerve cells or the blood vessels outlined in the cells. Due to this attack, the individual might encounter the dysfunction of the brain associated with severe headaches (Doreau et al., 2009).

From the pathophysiology of the nervous system, the PNS causes damages to cells due to the inflammation of the compression produced by nerves as a result of the swelling of tissues within them. The ANS is responsible for regulating various body functioning that is automatic, feeling hot or cold, heart rate, breathing, adrenaline release, sweating, muscle movements, and blood pressure (Belmont et al., 1996). The nervous system is affected by the infection leading to overactivity of the nerve signals, thus an extensive range of symptoms by the patient. ANS involves the inflammation of the nerves or the blood vessels, thus causing the numbness, pain, or tingling of toes and fingers. This condition is regarded as Raynaud's Phenomenon. CNS is a condition where the inflammation of the blood vessels in the brain leads to an effect on the nervous system. The Auto-antibodies tend to target the white blood cells known as neutrophils and then attack the small blood vessels in the organism (Belmont et al., 1996).

Prevention (Criteria 5):

It is difficult to prevent the SLE/ Lupus condition. However, one can avoid the factors that lead to or trigger the symptoms, such as limiting the amount of time exposed to sunlight, which causes the rash (Doreau et al., 2009).

Treatment (Criteria 6):

Currently, no cure has been certified for Lupus. However, medical interventions and lifestyle adjustments can facilitate their control. Mainly, the treatment objective is to relieve the symptoms, thus vary depending on the body parts that are primarily affected by SLE (Mok et al., 2003). Among them, these treatments might include:

Antimalarial dosage for the skin and joints issues...