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Some people with SLE have deposits of antibodies within the cells (glomeruli) of the kidneys. This leads to a condition called lupus nephritis. Patients with this condition may eventually develop kidney failure and require dialysis or kidney trans...
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The prognosis for patients with SLE varies, depending on the organ systems most affected and the severity of inflammation. Some patients have long periods of time with mild or no symptoms. About 90-95% of patients are still living after 2 years wi...
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Hemolytic anemia is a condition of an inadequate number of circulating red blood cells ( anemia ) caused by premature destruction of red blood cells. There are a number of specific types of hemolytic anemia, which are described individually.
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Red blood cells have a normal life span of approximately 90-120 days, at which time the old cells are destroyed and replaced by the body ' s natural processes. Hemolytic anemia is a disorder in which the red blood cells are destroyed prematurely.
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Red blood cells (erythrocytes) transport oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream, maintain a normal acid-base balance, and determine how thick or thin the blood is. Hemolytic anemia refers to the premature, increased destruction of erythrocytes.
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Acute renal failure is sudden loss of the ability of the kidneys to excrete wastes, concentrate urine, and conserve electrolytes . ("Acute" means sudden, "renal" refers to the kidneys.)
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Chronic kidney failure occurs when disease or disorder damages the kidneys so that they are no longer capable of adequately removing fluids and wastes from the body or of maintaining the proper level of certain kidney-regulated chemicals in the bloodstream. Chronic kidney failure, also known as chronic renal failure, affects over 250,000 Americans annually.
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Chronic kidney failure occurs when disease or dis- order damages the kidneys so that they can no longer adequately remove fluids and wastes from the body or maintain proper levels of kidney-regulated chemicals in the bloodstream. Chronic kidney failure, also known as chronic renal failure, affects over 250,000 Americans annually.
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Thrombocytopenia is any disorder in which there are not enough platelets. Platelets are cells in the blood that help blood to clot. This condition is sometimes associated with abnormal bleeding.
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Thrombocytopenia (thrombocythemia) is a blood disorder characterized by an abnormally low number of circulating platelets (thrombocytes) in the bloodstream. Because platelets play an important role in the process of coagulation (blood clotting) and in the plugging of damaged blood vessels, persons with decreased platelets bruise easily and can have episodes of excessive bleeding (hemorrhage).
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Thrombocytopenia is an abnormal drop in the number of blood cells involved in forming blood clots. These cells are called platelets.
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Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle.
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Myocarditis is an inflammatory disease of the heart muscle (myocardium) that can result from a variety of causes. While most cases are produced by a viral infection, an inflammation of the heart muscle may also be instigated by toxins, drugs, and hypersensitive immune reactions.
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A seizure is a sudden change in behavior due to an excessive electrical activity in the brain.
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A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception (sense of feeling) or motor activity (movement) due to an abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain. Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.
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A seizure is a sudden change in behavior characterized by changes in sensory perception (sense of feeling) or motor activity (movement) due to an abnormal firing of nerve cells in the brain . Epilepsy is a condition characterized by recurrent seizures that may include repetitive muscle jerking called convulsions.
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A temporary series of uncontrollable muscle spasms brought on by unusual electrical activity in the brain. Also known as convulsion, clonic seizure, or tonic-clonic seizure.
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Vasculitis refers to a varied group of disorders which all share a common underlying problem of inflammation of a blood vessel or blood vessels. The inflammation may affect any size blood vessel, anywhere in the body.
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Vasculitides is the plural of the word vasculitis, which may be used to describe any disorder characterized by inflammation of the blood or lymph vessels. Vasculitis is not a distinctive disease in its own right, but rather a symptom or characteristic of a number of different diseases.
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Vasculitis refers to a condition that causes inflammation of blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, and/or veins). When the blood vessels become inflamed, scarring, thickening of the vessel walls, and narrowing of the vessel caliber decrease the amount of blood flow through the blood vessels.
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Pneumonia in an immunocompromised host describes a lung infection that occurs in a person whose ability to fight infection is greatly impaired.
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