Disability in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Systemic lupus erythematosus is one of the most severe systemic diseases with autoimmune damage to the connective tissue, microvasculature vessels and a number of internal organs. In the clinical picture of the disease, lesions of the skin (pathognomonic feature is the appearance of an erythematous rash in the form of a butterfly on the bridge of the nose and cheeks), the occurrence of Raynaud's syndrome, involvement of the joints in the pathological process, proceeding as arthritis, damage to the lungs and kidneys are in the first place. Most often, the onset of disease is noted at the age of 15-25 years; mainly women are affected. The disease onset is not very specific: a temperature reaction and asthenic syndrome are noted; skin rashes or a microcirculatory reaction may appear in response to exposure to cold or stressful situations. The danger of systemic lupus erythematosus is the polysyndromic nature of the disease, which consists in the involvement of many organs and systems in the pathological process. The kidneys are most often and severely affected with the development of lupus nephritis, which can cause the rapid development of chronic renal failure. The manifestation of a convulsive syndrome with the subsequent development of mental disorders is not uncommon. Disability in systemic lupus erythematosus is given in case of the development of chronic renal failure of stage 2A and above, with complete atrioventricular block with the need to install a pacemaker, with damage to the vision organ and the nervous system with impaired functional activity. Systemic lupus erythematosus requires lifelong use of glucocorticoid drugs and, in some cases, the use of extracorporeal detoxification methods to remove metabolic products and circulating immune complexes.