SLE is a disease of?

HPSSSB Staff Nurse - 2016

Medical & Surgical Nursing (E5)

Easy

Appeared in: HPSSSB Staff Nurse - 2016

Explanation

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, systemic autoimmune disorder.
The core pathology involves the immune system producing autoantibodies that target and attack the body's own connective tissues.
Because connective tissue is present throughout the body (in skin, joints, organs, blood vessels), the disease causes widespread inflammation and multi-organ involvement.
The characteristic histological lesion in SLE is fibrinoid necrosis, which is observed in the connective tissue.

Option A: SLE is not a primary disease of the bones. Bone health can be affected, but this is typically a secondary complication.
Option B: While SLE can cause hematological problems like autoimmune hemolytic anemia (destruction of red blood cells), it is not fundamentally a disease of the erythrocytes themselves.
Option D: Joint pain (arthralgia) and inflammation (arthritis) are extremely common symptoms of SLE, affecting up to 90% of patients. However, SLE is a systemic disease, not one confined to the joints.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: Knowing Pathophysiology of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
Nursing management for SLE is holistic, focusing on symptom control, managing medication side effects (e.g., from steroids), and educating the patient on flare prevention strategies like sun protection and stress management.
What if? A patient with known SLE develops sudden chest pain and shortness of breath. The nurse must recognize this could be a serious complication like pericarditis or pleurisy, requiring immediate assessment of vital signs, an ECG, and prompt notification of the physician.
Patient education is a critical nursing role, covering the importance of medication adherence, recognizing early signs of a flare, and lifestyle modifications to manage the chronic illness.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the core term in the question: 'SLE' (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus).
This is a factual recall question asking for the fundamental classification of a specific disease.
Recall or deduce the primary tissue type affected by SLE. The word 'Systemic' in its name is a major clue that it affects the entire body, not just one localized area.
Evaluate the options. Connective tissue is found throughout the body in skin, joints, and organs. A disease of connective tissue would therefore be systemic.
Consider the other options. While SLE causes joint pain and can affect blood cells, these are manifestations of the underlying systemic disease, not the primary tissue type it is classified under.
Select the option that represents the foundational pathology (connective tissue) that explains all the other symptoms.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Medicine Davidson Principles Practice 24e p. 1054-1056

E6 Pathology-Textbook of PATHOLOGYHarsh Mohan Part 1 (1-214) pp. 168-170, 169-171