Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Case Study

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this Nursing Case Study, the student-nurse will be able to:

General Objective:

 Present the condition called Systematic Lupus Erythematosus in relation to the patient’s clinical manifestations, treatment and general health status

Specific Objectives:

 Identify the causes of Systematic Lupus Erythematosus that can be traced in relation to the case/condition of the patient

 Explain the nursing care performed to the patient with Systematic Lupus Erythematosus

 Distinguish the relevance of making this nursing case study

INTRODUCTION

Blood is a highly specialized circulating tissue consisting of several types of cells suspended in a fluid medium known as plasma. The cellular constituents are: red blood cells, which carry respiratory gases and give it its red color because they contain hemoglobin (an iron-containing protein that binds oxygen in the lungs and transports it to tissues in the body), white blood cells (leukocytes), which fight disease, and platelets, cell fragments which play an important part in the clotting of the blood.

Medical terms related to blood often begin with hemo- or hemato- (from the Greek word "haima" for "blood"). Anatomically, blood is considered a connective tissue from both its origin in the bones and its function.

There are many functions of the blood, one is to supply oxygen to tissues wherein it is bound to hemoglobin which is carried in red cells; it supplies of nutrients such as glucose, amino acids and fatty acids (dissolved in the blood or bound to plasma proteins); it removes waste such as carbon dioxide, urea and lactic acid; it has immunological functions, including circulation of white cells, and detection of foreign material by antibodies; it is essential in coagulation, which is one part of the body's self-repair mechanism; it functions as a messenger, including the transport of hormones and the signalling of tissue damage; it regulates body pH and body temperature; and lastly, it has hyrdraulic functions, including erection.

Blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, this process is termed hematopoiesis. The proteinaceous component (including clotting proteins) is produced overwhelmingly in the liver, while hormones are produced by the endocrine glands and the watery fraction regulated by the hypothalamus and maintained by the kidney and indirectly by the gut. Blood cells are degraded by the spleen and the Kupffer cells in the liver. The liver also clears some proteins, lipids and amino acids. The kidney actively secretes waste products into the urine. Erythrocytes usually live up to 120 days before they are systematically replaced by new erythrocytes created by the process of hematopoiesis.

Blood is essential for the maintenance and the functioning of life processes, and any abnormality present in the blood can be life-threatening. Blood diseases such as Systematic Lupus Erythematosus, may not be fatal, but a disease such as this needs life-long therapy in order to alleviate symptoms and prolong the life of a person.

About 41% of the world’s population is affected by diseases of the blood. We are lucky enough, I am lucky enough that I am one of the 69%. I consider this as a blessing, and in return, I must pay it forward by helping the unfortunate ones having the disease. It the least thing I could do for myself, but it can be of much help to them.

This case study aims to explain the incidence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, a disease in the blood that affects a small number of people practically at any age, affecting mostly women. As of 2007, there is still no cure for this disease, despite the fact that we are living in the edge of technology. Sad to say, although medicine claims to be the best cure there is for any disease, its puzzle isn’t completed yet, and for me, the best cure, still and always be tender loving care for an individual, just like a nurse’s care.

BASELINE DATA

Name: Jolyn Perez

Age: 13 years old

Gender: Female

Marital Status: Single

Chief Complaint: Increase