System lupus erythematosus

The System Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) – the autoimmune disease affecting capillaries and connecting fabric, thus, exerting impact on all organism.

The system lupus erythematosus can begin at any age, cases of a system lupus erythematosus at children (the fifth part of all diseased), as a rule, after 8 years are frequent, but most often the disease begins at women aged from 15 up to 40 years. The system lupus erythematosus at children proceeds more sharply and hard, than at adults.

Origins of a system lupus erythematosus

Now researchers incline to the virus theory of an origin of a disease as in tissues of patients with a system lupus erythematosus at microscopic examination some groups of viruses are found (RNA - and retroviruses), and in blood a large number of antibodies to them. However not all people with a persistent viral infection, and only genetically predisposed get sick. Thus, the system lupus erythematosus arises in response to the persistent viral infection caused by certain groups of viruses with hereditary tendency to a disease.

Symptoms of a system lupus erythematosus

The system lupus erythematosus proves a large number of symptoms that is caused by defeat of fabrics practically of all bodies and systems. In certain cases displays of a disease are limited to exclusively skin symptoms, and then call a disease a diskoidny lupus erythematosus, but in most cases there are multiple damages of internals, and then speak about the system nature of a disease.

The most constant symptoms of a system lupus erythematosus are damage of skin and mucous membranes, muscular and joint system and a polyserositis (an inflammation at once several serous covers: pericardium, peritoneum, pleura). Dermatitis, arthritis and a polyserositis make a so-called diagnostic triad of a system lupus erythematosus.

Dermatitis, or skin inflammation, one of characteristic symptoms of a system lupus erythematosus, has a set of manifestations (all 28 forms of dermatitis at this disease contain), distinguishes its bright red color of rashes, their painlessness, an elation over healthy skin. The symptom of a butterfly – the bright red spots on cheeks connected by the inflamed skin strip on a nose bridge is characteristic.

Arthritis at a system lupus erythematosus affects several joints, as a rule, of symmetric at once. From rhematoid polyarthritis it is distinguished by the expressed pain syndrome at poorly expressed damage of a joint, i.e. discrepancy to the expressed sharp pain to other signs of an inflammation of joints takes place. Development of a flexion contracture of fingers of hands, the "crooked" fingers is characteristic. Arthritis often is followed by a polymiositis – the inflammation of muscles proceeding also with the expressed pain syndrome.

Symptoms of a system lupus erythematosus can prove as change from cardiopulmonary system (carditises, perikardita, pleurisy, pneumonites), digestive tract (various disorders of activity of a GIT), a liver (lupoid hepatitis), kidneys (lupoid nephrite, or lyupus-nephrite), a nervous system.

Steady fever, weakness, loss of weight, bystry fatigue belong to the general symptoms of a system lupus erythematosus.

Character of a current of a system lupus erythematosus

The system lupus erythematosus can have an acute, subacute and chronic current.

• Acute system lupus erythematosus. The most malignant form of a disease, differs in the continuous progressing current, sharp increase and plurality of symptoms, resistance to therapy. On this type the system lupus erythematosus at children often proceeds.
• Subacute system lupus erythematosus. The most frequent form of a disease. It is characterized by quieter, than at an acute form, a current, however though slow, but steady development of symptoms, the polisindromnost is also present.
• Chronic system lupus erythematosus. Optimum option. Differs in a wavy current, with the periods of an aggravation and remissions, aggravations give in to therapy by medicines. This form of a disease can last decades, it improves the forecast of a system lupus erythematosus.

On a degree of activity of lupoid process also allocate three degrees:

• minimum activity
• average activity
• maximum

Lupoid crises at which activity of a disease is maximum are characteristic of a system lupus erythematosus. Duration of crisis can make from one day to two weeks.

Diagnosis of a system lupus erythematosus

Because of plurality of manifestations diagnosis of a system lupus erythematosus represents a problem, and often since the beginning of a disease before diagnosis there passes long term. Several systems of diagnostic characters were developed for diagnosis of a system lupus erythematosus. Now preference is given to the system developed by the American Rheumatic Association as more modern. The system includes the following criteria:

• symptom of a butterfly:
• diskoidny rash;
• hypersensitivity of skin to light – emergence of rash after stay in the sun;
• formation of ulcers on mucous membranes;
• arthritis – damage of two or more joints;
• polyserositis;
• damage of kidneys – squirrels in urine, cylinders in urine;
• damage of a brain, spasm, psychosis;
• decrease in number of erythrocytes, leukocytes and thrombocytes in clinical blood test;
• emergence in blood of specific antibodies: anti-DNA of antibodies, Anti-cm of antibodies, false positive Wassermann reaction, anti-cardiolipin antibodies, lupoid anticoagulant, positive test for LE-cells;
• detection in blood of antinuclear antibodies (ANA).

Treatment of a system lupus erythematosus

The system lupus erythematosus belongs to the diseases which at the moment are considered as incurable. Nevertheless, treatment of a system lupus erythematosus it is necessary as it is capable to remove aggressive displays of a disease, to make lupoid crises more rare and less active, and the periods of remission by longer.

Treatment of a system lupus erythematosus is performed in three directions:

• symptomatic therapy;
• immunocorrection;
• fortifying therapy, including change of a way of life aside healthier.

Lupoid crises are removed high doses of hormonal antiinflammatory drugs, hormonal means also treat a system lupus erythematosus at children.

Forecast of a system lupus erythematosus

The forecast of a system lupus erythematosus depends not only on the applied treatment, but in many respects on a disease form, and also on age of the patient. At an acute form of a system lupus erythematosus the forecast, as a rule, adverse. At resistance to therapy and a high degree of activity of process within one or two years complications from internals can develop, incompatible with life. At a subacute and chronic current the forecast of a system lupus erythematosus more optimistical.