Case study 1
Case Study 1
1. A 28 year old Caucasian lady came to the emergency department complaining about shortness of breath, chest pain which is aggravated by deep breathing of one week duration. She had generalize easy fatigability, malaise,skin rash that worsens with sun exposure, fever and joint pain for about three weeks prior to her current complaint. Physical examination revealed the following:
General appearance: Acutely sick looking, in sever cardiorespiratory distress
Respiratory rate 32 , Heart rate 112, Blood pressure 110/68, Temperature 37.8 C
She has erythematous malar rash, decreased air entry on both sides of the lung, there is pericardial friction rub on the pericardium.
The knee and wrist joints are swollen and painful.
The attending physician ordered the following lab tests with the impression of Systemic lupus erythematosus.
White blood count elevated, ESR (Sedimentation Rate) very elevated, Xray bilateral pleaural and mild pericardial effusion
ANA and Anti Ds antibody positive.
Then the patient was started with high dose prednisolone by the intravenous route and responded well to treatment after a couple of weeks.
Answer the following questions based on the case.
1.What are the organ systems affected in this patient?
2.Why do you think the prednisolone helped the patient?
3.What is the pathophysiology behind this illness?
4.Do you thing gender is a risk factor for SLE?
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