Lupus Research Paper

Symptoms
The symptoms of SLE depend on what part of the body is being attacked. The most common symptoms are: headaches, confusion, memory loss, fatigue, fever, joint pain, stiffness, swelling, skin lesions, shortness of breath, dry eyes, chest pain, white or blue discoloration in the fingers and toes during stressful periods or the cold, and a butter-fly shaped rash, that 55-85% of people with Lupus suffer from, on the face that forms over the cheeks and bridge of the nose (Cassell, Dana K., and Noel Rose, n.p., 2015).
According to Lupus Foundation of America, there are some serious complications that can occur from lupus that will affect the major organ systems in the body such as:
• Lupus nephritis, which is inflammation of the kidneys. …show more content…
• Pulmonary hypertension, which is increased blood pressure in the lungs. This can cause difficult breathing.
Diagnostic tests
“No single test can determine whether a person has lupus, but several laboratory tests may help the doctor to confirm a diagnosis of lupus or rule out other causes for a person’s symptoms. The most useful tests identify certain autoantibodies often present in the blood of people with lupus” (Cassell, Dana K., and Noel Rose, n.p., 2015). Some tests include:
• Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test: A positive test for these antibodies means a stimulated immune system. People with lupus test positive for ANA, but so do people without lupus. “The ANA test simply provides another clue for the doctor to consider in making a diagnosis” (Cassell, Dana K., and Noel Rose, n.p., 2015).
• Urinalysis: The way to tell lupus is affecting the kidneys is to take a urine sample and have it examined. If there is in an increase in red blood cells or protein levels, it has affected the kidneys.
• Complete blood count (CBC) test: This test measures the amount of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin which is found in red blood cells. A low white blood count can show or …show more content…
Development and testing of these new drugs, which are based on compounds that occur naturally in the body, comprise an exciting and promising new area of lupus research. The hope is that these treatments will not only be effective but will also have fewer side effects. Other treatment options currently being explored include reconstructing the immune system by bone marrow transplantation. In the future, gene therapy may also play an important role in lupus treatment (Cassell, Dana and Noel Rose, n.p.,

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