Lupus
Erythematosus (LE) is an autoimmune disease
in which the immune system attacks the body’s
cells and tissue, resulting in inflammation and
tissue damage.
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Primarily affects
young women, although men can be diagnosed
with lupus. |
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SLE can affect
any part of the body, but often harms the
joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels and brain/nervous
system; however, sometimes lupus affects only
the skin. |
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Lupus is treatable,
but there is currently no cure. |
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Standard therapy
has been limited to corticosteroids, antimalarials,
and immunosuppressive drugs. Plaquenil (hydroxychloroquine
sulfate) is currently the only FDA approved
antimalarial agent for treating lupus erythematosus. |
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SLE is known as
a "great imitator", because its
symptoms often mimic other illnesses. In the
United States alone, an estimated 270,000
to 1.5 million people have lupus. |
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World-wide, a
conservative estimate states that over 5 million
people have lupus. |
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