Medical-surgical Nursing Demystified

(^166) Medical-Surgical Nursing Demystified
INTERPRETING TEST RESULTS

• Positive antinuclear antibody test—antibodies are present in the blood.


• Positive rheumatoid factor.

TREATMENT

Treatment of SLE is supportive. The drugs used should match the stage the

patient is in at the time. Treatment of systemic signs is dependent on the organ

system involved.

• Administer NSAIDs to decrease the inflammation and give analgesic
  effects:
  
  
  • ibuprofen
  
  
  • flurbiprofen
  
  
  • indomethacin
  
  
  • sulindac
  
  
  • naproxen
  
  
  • diclofenac
  
  
  
  


• Antimalarials—used to treat joint manifestations and skin rashes.


• Administer immunosuppressants in patients who are unresponsive to corti-
  costeroids:
  
  
  • azathioprine
  
  
  • cyclophosphamide
  
  
  
  


• Administer analgesic:
  
  
  • NSAIDs
  
  
  • aspirin
  
  
  • acetaminophen
  
  
  • tramadol
  
  
  
  

NURSING DIAGNOSES

• Impaired mobility


• Disturbed body image