RED WAVE SYSTEM (SLE)

RED SYSTEM WOLF SYSTEM (SLE) is a disease related to diffuse connective tissue diseases, which were previously called collagen diseases, or collagenoses. The provoking factors are infections, insolation, vaccination, the use of certain medicines. Mostly women are sick at the age of 20 - 30 years.

Initial clinical manifestations of the disease may be fever , resistant to antibiotic treatment, joint syndrome, skin rashes, which occur in isolation or in combination with each other. Almost all patients have articular syndrome in the form of arthralgia or polyarthritis with a predominant lesion of interphalangeal and radiocarpal joints. Characterized by skin lesions, manifested erythematous rash on the nose and cheeks, which looks like a butterfly. Typically, the appearance of erythema under the influence of solar or ultraviolet radiation. On the skin of the terminal phalanges of the fingers and toes, small erythematous spots with small punctuality and telangiectasia (capillary) can be observed. Often revealed pleurisy, usually bilateral, recurrent, with a small amount of fluid and a tendency to adhesions. Possible lung damage, manifested by coughing, shortness of breath, sometimes hemoptysis. Heart damage can manifest as signs of myocarditis, endocarditis with the formation of a mitral valve or pericarditis (inconsistent pericardial friction noise). More than half of the patients have kidney damage in the form of diffuse glomerulonephritis (lupus-nephritis), nephrotic syndrome with gradual development of renal failure. Characterized by leukopenia , mild anemia and thrombocytopenia, an increase in ESR. When the process is active in the blood, lupus cells (LE cells) are identified, which are mature neutrophils, in the cytoplasm of which large inclusions are present. The detection of LE cells is of great diagnostic importance.

The course of the disease is characterized by alternation of periods of exacerbations and remissions. Allocate subacute (most often) and chronic (benign variant) course of the disease.

Treatment is usually complex, includes active anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive therapy, as well as rehabilitation measures. The main method of treatment is the use of corticosteroids. The initial (suppressive anti-inflammatory) dose is 40 - 60 mg of prednisolone per day. After suppressing the activity, they pass to maintenance doses (5-10-15 mg per day). Cytostatics (azathioprine), non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anticoagulants, antiaggregants are also used. In a number of cases, hemosorption, plasmapheresis is carried out. With a decrease in the activity of the process, it is possible to carry out rehabilitation measures - physical therapy, massage, sanatorium treatment in the conditions of local sanatoriums. Patient SLE should be under constant follow-up care.