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    Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Final

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    Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease to diagnose and treat. Scientists use pigs to test new SLE treatments because pigs' immune systems and organs resemble humans. New treatments undergo extensive testing on pigs before human trials to ensure safety and efficacy. Current SLE treatments aim to reduce symptoms and flares but come with side effects that require monitoring by medical professionals. With proper treatment and self-care, people with SLE can live healthy lives despite the chronic nature of the disease.

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    Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Final

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    Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease to diagnose and treat. Scientists use pigs to test new SLE treatments because pigs' immune systems and organs resemble humans. New treatments undergo extensive testing on pigs before human trials to ensure safety and efficacy. Current SLE treatments aim to reduce symptoms and flares but come with side effects that require monitoring by medical professionals. With proper treatment and self-care, people with SLE can live healthy lives despite the chronic nature of the disease.

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    Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease to diagnose and treat. Scientists use pigs to test new SLE treatments because pigs' immune systems and organs resemble humans. New treatments undergo extensive testing on pigs before human trials to ensure safety and efficacy. Current SLE treatments aim to reduce symptoms and flares but come with side effects that require monitoring by medical professionals. With proper treatment and self-care, people with SLE can live healthy lives despite the chronic nature of the disease.

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    53 views4 pages

    Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Final

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    Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a complex autoimmune disease to diagnose and treat. Scientists use pigs to test new SLE treatments because pigs' immune systems and organs resemble humans. New treatments undergo extensive testing on pigs before human trials to ensure safety and efficacy. Current SLE treatments aim to reduce symptoms and flares but come with side effects that require monitoring by medical professionals. With proper treatment and self-care, people with SLE can live healthy lives despite the chronic nature of the disease.

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    Guillermo Velasquez

    Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

    According to the Mayo Clinic, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is very hard and

    complex to diagnose because it mimics other medical conditions that are common. Lupus is

    mainly caused by genetics and environmental factors and in some cases both. If left untreated

    it can cause irreversible damage and even death. If someone is properly diagnosed

    they can receive a treatment plan to ensure they have a long and healthy lifestyle to

    their best of their abilities, thought the disease is chronic it doesn’t have to be fatal.

    To test new medications and treatments for lupus and other conditions it first has to be

    tested on an animal before it can be approved for human testing (Chen, 2018). Humans and pigs

    have similarities when it comes to the immune system and organ functions and their skin

    resembles that of a human’s, that is why they are used in testing. Scientists are testing Lupus on

    pigs because the heart, lungs, kidneys and skin act similar to a human being (Nelson, 2017).

    Scientists first begin testing pigs that have Lupus with new treatment plans and medications to

    see if it helps relieve their symptoms. If the symptoms become worse and or the pig is in agony

    then it is put down humanely, but if they show signs of improvement then further testing

    continues. Once the scientists have further sufficient evidence showing that this will help humans

    who suffer from the same condition, it is only then when this new form of treatment can be FDA

    approved for human testing can begin. The process can take days, months and even years before

    it is medically proven to help treat Lupus. It needs to go through extensive testing and be

    repeated thousands of times before the FDA can confirm that this new treatment and medications

    can help people who suffer with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Scientists always put the

    public’s health first before they announce these new discoveries will help millions of people all

    over the world who suffer from this condition.


    Guillermo Velasquez

    Morgan Griffin makes it clear that Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) affects every

    person with the disease differently. Speaking for myself, the symptoms I have with my case

    involve fatigue, skin lesions and or hives, kidney pain and urinate protein. For me in my case the

    worst case scenario is when my blood cells swell up because my body thinks they are infected

    and causes me to flare up with hives all over my arms and legs. It literally feels like I am being

    burned alive and the flare up can last up to two weeks. During this time I am in agony. At times I

    feel sharp pain in my kidneys, like they are being stabbed by a sharp object multiple times over

    and over until the pain goes away by itself. Having both symptoms simultaneously will

    incapacitate me until the pain goes away on its own.

    The medication I use to help me with my Lupus is hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) and

    lisinopril. Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil) helps to ease my symptoms such as swelling, skin

    rashes and or hives. It takes about three months for the medication to take full effect because it

    needs to be in my system for a while before I notice its effect (Plaquenil use, 2012). If I go off

    the medication for long periods of time I risk losing the helpful proproteins that keeps my

    condition dormant and reduces the chances for a flare up. Lisinopril helps to protect my kidneys

    from an attack if my lupus were to flare up again.

    John Hopkins Lupus Center advises that all medications have their pros in helping to treat

    medical conditions but they also have their cons (side effects). The side effects I risk by taking

    both medications include, retinal damage in my eyes, fatigue, liver and or kidney disease and or

    mood swings and so much more. This is the risk I put myself through every day I take this

    medication to treat my Lupus. I would rather risk having these side effects over Lupus because at

    times it can become unbearable and debilitating. To help maintain my health and make sure no

    new side effects develop I have to see my rheumatologist, ophthalmologist and dermatologist,
    Guillermo Velasquez

    every six to twelve months to make sure I am improving and that my condition stays dormant. If

    new side effects occur, either both my medications and or treatment plan will have to be

    modified to treat the new symptoms (Brazier, 2020).

    The Lupus Foundation of America says Systemic Lupus Erythematous is a debilitating

    disease that at times can be fatal. A person who has the disease doesn’t have to be defined by it.

    With proper diagnoses, treatment, medication, self-care and awareness a person can live a long

    and healthy life as long as they are serious about living with the disease and also fighting it in not

    letting it define who they are. Currently there isn’t a cure for Lupus but as an old saying goes “all

    good things happen to those who wait.”


    Guillermo Velasquez

    Work Cited

    Brazier, Yvette. (2020, January 8). Lupus: Causes, Symptoms, and Research. Medical News.

    www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323653#causes.

    Chen, J., Zeng, W., Pan, W., Peng, C., Zhang., J, Su, J., Long, W., Zhao, H., Zuo, X., Xie, X.,

    Wu, J., Nie, L., Zhao, H., Wei, H., Chen, X. (2018) Symptoms of Systemic Lupus

    Erythematosus are Diagnosed in Leptin Transgenic Pigs. PLoS Biol 16(8): e2005354.

    doi:10.1371/journal.pbio.2005354

     Drugs. (2019, April 10). Plaquenil Uses, Dosage & Side Effects. Drugs.

    www.drugs.com/plaquenil.html.

     Griffin, R. Morgan. (2010, December 15). Lupus Medications and Treatments. WebMD.

    www.webmd.com/lupus/features/lupus-medications-treatments#1

    Johns Hopkins Lupus Center. (2011). Treating Lupus with Anti-Malarial Drugs. Johns Hopkins

    Medicine. www.hopkinslupus.org/lupus-treatment/lupus-medications/antimalarial-drugs/.

     Lupus Foundation of America. (2013, July 12). Medications Used to Treat Lupus.

    www.lupus.org/resources/medications-used-to-treat-lupus

    Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2017, October 25). Lupus.

    www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/lupus/symptoms-causes/syc-20365789.

    Nelson, Bryan. (2017, June 5). Pigs and Humans Share More Genetic Similarities than

    Previously Believed. Mnn. www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/stories/pigs-and-

    humans-more-closely-related-thought-according-genetic-analysis.

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