Lupus in the Veteran Community

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Lupus is a multisystem autoimmune connective tissue disease of unknown etiology. It affects people of African, Asian, or Native American descent two to three times as often as ...

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Lupus is a multisystem autoimmune connective tissue disease of unknown etiology. It affects people of African, Asian, or Native American descent two to three times as often as it affects whites. Nine out of 10 people with lupus are women of childbearing age (15 to 44) but it can occur in older individuals. Because the disease occurs primarily in women, less is known about the disease in men. In addition, significant correlations between PTSD and autoimmune disorders continue to be uncovered. A recent study of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans reported that those diagnosed with PTSD are more likely to develop autoimmune disorders to include rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, lupus, thyroid inflammation, and inflammatory bowel disease. In addition, the research team at the Northern California Institute for Research and Education found a two-fold increase in autoimmune disorders among veterans with PTSD compared to those who had no psychiatric diagnoses.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES
After completing this activity, participants should be able to:Describe the symptoms and immunologic features of SLEDiscuss environmental and genetic risk factors for SLE in general and for veteransIdentify common barriers to optimal outcomes in patients with SLEIntroduce SLE treatment and management guidelines and quality indicatorsIdentify the complications and associated interventions for treatment of SLE

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