chronic and deadly diseases
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Why Lupus is not more main stream as other chronic and deadly diseases:
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a long-time condition characterized by
multisystem inflammation and circulating autoimmune antibodies attacking self-nuclear and
cytoplasmic antigens. SLE has a prevalence of 20 to 150 cases per 100,000 in the US, even
higher among African American women. Fatalities have been reported throughout the course of
the illness, with risk highest during the first three years following initial diagnosis. SLE however,
is not appreciated as other main stream chronic and deadly diseases, from some unique
properties of the disease that make it difficult to diagnose, treat and manage.
SLE presents differently among those infected, often involving many organs and systems
such as the renal, integumentary, neurologic and hematopoietic systems. It is rare that two cases
of SLE will present in an exact manner, and so the diagnosis is at the onset easily missed. SLE
manifestations are non-specific to SLE, with marked similarities to those found in other
recognized diseases. Diagnosis is further compounded by the absence of a single specific
laboratory test that can be done to diagnose the disease, as is in most of the main stream diseases.
Instead, the diagnosis is made through a combination of clinical findings, several laboratories
and biopsies which increases its complexity.
